Nok: Oil can to the rescue

BANGKOK Nok Air has reaffirmed the safety of its Bombardier Q400 aircraft after passengers were stranded at Nan airport when a rear door jammed prior to take off last Wednesday.
Passengers on the Nok Air flight were stranded at Nan airport, last Wednesday, for more than three hours after a rear cabin door could not be secured for take off.
The crew of Flight DD8819 bound for Bangkok’s Don Mueang asked 86 passengers, about 40 of them VIPS and members of the press, to disembark and wait in the passenger terminal.
The Bombardier Q400 twin turboprop was scheduled to take off for the one-hour flight to Bangkok at 1030. The passengers left Nan airport for Bangkok on the new plane about 1430.
inside no 4The flight had many VIP passengers on board, along with reporters, who attended an event marking the 60th birthday anniversary of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn in the northern province on last Tuesday.
Speaking at a press conference, Tuesday, the airline CEO Patee Sarasin said safety and security was a top priority.
“It was not a big problem and does not reflect on the Q400 aircraft quality… The plane is very new and was door was a little too stiff. After the technical team examined it and put some oil on it the door closed smoothly…we reaffirm the safety and security of our aircraft and service.”
He added: “However, the incident caused a delay for passengers …the plan for the future is that our aircrews will be trained to reset doors independently and that will be more efficient.”
He noted that the airline operates 140 flights a day and based on that, we have less than a 10% delay factor. We are not perfect, but we are working on it.
As the press conference closed, he aimed a parting shot at the Airports of Thailand for traffic congestion at Don Mueang Airport.
“We need the AoT to reorganise the slot times… aircraft traffic is jammed. Nok Air has over 20 aircraft that use the airport, there are more than 40 Thai AirAsia aircraft, 10 from Thai Lion Air, and three from THAI Smile.”
Bombardier Commercial Aircraft’s Sales (Asia Pacific) Regional, vice president, Frank Baistrocchi, commenting on the sticky door said: “We have shared instructional videos (with Nok Air).”
Currently, Nok Air has four Q400 Next Gen aircraft and will receive two more this year.

sourced:ttrweekly.com