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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted on: Friday, January 24, 2003

FAA clears China Airlines pilot

By Mike Gordon
Advertiser Staff Writer

A Federal Aviation Administration investigation has found the pilot of a China Airlines 747 did not violate any rules when he flew over Waikiki on Jan. 4, even though his approach startled residents.

While the pilot of China Airlines flight 018 "did not violate any regulations or deviate from any instructions," he did not follow standard practice used by other pilots approaching Honolulu International Airport under similar circumstances, FAA spokesman Paul Turk said Wednesday.

Turk said the FAA completed its review of the pilot Jan. 14.

Because of kona winds the day of the incident, the pilot was operating under "visual approach" and approaching from the east. But he flew one-quarter mile inland, prompting complaints from area residents who thought he came too close to high-rise buildings.

The FAA found that the pilot did not drop below the minimum altitude of 1,200 feet.

"He didn't do anything wrong but the standard practice, even on visual approaches, was to stay over water," Turk said. "For people experienced with this and flying in over the ocean, that is what is expected."

But at the time, no FAA instructions told pilots to do that, Turk said.