On February 3, 2005, MSNBC interviewed NBAA Senior Vice President, Operations, Steve Brown
to discuss the February 2 Challenger CL-600 incident at Teterboro Airport and the historical
safety record of the industry.
NATALIE ALLEN, co-anchor:
Investigators say the cockpit voice recorder from the plane gives no indication of trouble
in the moments leading up to the crash. Twenty people were hurt when the plane skidded off
of the runway and across a highway before crashing into a clothing warehouse.
Joining us from Washington, DC is Steve Brown. Steve is the senior vice president of operations
at the National Business Aviation Association, and formerly with the FAA.
Thanks for being with us, Steve.
STEVE BROWN: Oh, you're welcome, Natalie.
ALLEN: Lots more questions than answers now; that's pretty typical in
this situation. But it's interesting that, you know, the pilots survived, they had the data
recorder, the cockpit voice recorder; and still it doesn't even seem like they have a very
clear clue as to what happened. What are you thinking at this point?
BROWN: Well, NTSB utilizes a very disciplined investigation process,
and they're going through the interviews, gathering evidence. They looked very closely at
the runway yesterday. So they're gathering all of the facts that they can, and now--just
really only one day after the accident--it would really be speculation to come to any conclusions.
ALLEN: Oh, absolutely. I'm not asking you to come to conclusions, but
is there anything that has piqued your interest in what you've heard so far about the conditions?
BROWN: Well, it was certainly a favorable weather day. The NTSB, of course,
has gathered that information as well. And the early indications were that everything was
normal on the flight, that clearly something went abnormally in the latter parts of the
takeoff role.
ALLEN: It--go ahead, I'm sorry.
BROWN: Well--and the NTSB, of course, will look at the aircraft, the
engines, the performance. And as you mentioned, they have the cockpit voice recorder. And
that will be supplemented by interviews with the flight crew.
But overall, business aviation has a very, very good and an excellent safety record.
ALLEN: And what will they do as far as checking into the de-icing situation,
and whether the plane was de-iced, or should have been de-iced, and if it was, if it was
done correctly? What's that process?
BROWN: Well it's been reported that they did talk with the ground crew
that was servicing the aircraft before it taxied for takeoff yesterday. And of course, NTSB
I'm sure will ask the pilots about those very same conditions as well.
ALLEN: Steve Brown. We thank you so much for joining us, Steve.
BROWN: Thank you.
