[Peetwo]

Drone vs B737 radome -

To what is tick, tocking towards a regular event via Avherald.. :  

Incident: LAM B737 at Tete on Jan 5th 2017, collision with a drone

By Simon Hradecky, created Friday, Jan 6th 2017 12:22Z, last updated Saturday, Jan 7th 2017 21:39Z

A LAM Linhas Aereas de Mocambique Boeing 737-700, registration C9-BAQ performing flight TM-136 from Maputo to Tete (Mozambique) with 80 passengers and 6 crew, was on final approach to Tete when the crew heard a loud bang, no abnormal indications followed. The crew suspecting a bird strike continued the approach for a safe landing.

A post flight examination revealed a drone had impacted the right hand side of the radome.

The airline confirmed the occurrence, a replacement aircraft was dispatched to Tete to perform the return flight. The occurrence aircraft is being repaired.

In the region there are frequently drones weighing around about 10kg/22lbs operated for mining survey. Ground witnesses describe those drones are being operated without regard for the aerodrome and aircraft traffic.

The radome damage:


The damage stretches down the right-hand side of the fuselage (Photo: The Aviation Herald)

MTF...P2