The pilot assessed the prospects of the plane that urgently landed near Novosibirsk: “It will still fly if you’re lucky with the crew.”

Images and indirect data have appeared on the Internet indicating that the A320 aircraft (RA-73805), which two weeks ago made an emergency landing due to fuel exhaustion in the Novosibirsk region, is being prepared for takeoff. It was previously reported that this machine would no longer be able to take off from the field and would have to be dismantled for parts. However, now photographs published on Telegram channels show a ground-based power unit powering the A320 next to the plane, which may indicate an attempt to turn on its power systems and prepare for takeoff.

Is this possible? Have there ever been similar examples before? “MK” asked an experienced pilot with extensive flying experience, and in the recent past the commander of the aircraft, Vladimir Salnikov, about this.

According to the official channel of Ural Airlines, which owns the A320 that landed in the field, the plane does not have any serious damage. According to technicians, a small amount of soil got into one of the engines during an emergency landing, causing damage to several engine fan blades and the front landing gear being deployed.

It was reported that the board would be mothballed, and at the moment special wooden platforms were placed under it, on which it now stands. The airline has not yet announced how exactly the plane is going to be evacuated from the field. Although in the first comments after the emergency, airline representatives promised to return the plane to operation.

“Theoretically and practically, this plane can be lifted into the air from there,” says Vladimir Salnikov. – But provided that he is prepared accordingly. That is, they will completely check, eliminate defects, and make it as easy as possible. They also compact the field, properly rolling the soil. Then it is quite possible to lift it into the air and transport it to the airfield.

– Have such situations ever happened before? Any examples?

– Certainly. What immediately came to mind – remember, in 2010, the Tu-154, due to a loss of power supply, was forced to land on the runway of an old abandoned airfield unsuitable for aircraft of this type? In fact, the same field on which the A320 has now landed. While landing during the run, the Tu-154 drove into a small forest and damaged something there, but none of the passengers or crew members on board were injured.

Then, at first, it was reported that the airline intended to write off the damaged aircraft. But then it was repaired on site and transported first to Ukhta and then to Samara, after which it flew normally on regional airlines for some time. I think it can happen now too.

– But here, they say the A320 has problems with one of the engines.

– During landing, clods of earth simply fell into it, damaging some of the shoulder blades. It’s okay, it can be fixed. Now both this engine and the aircraft itself will be checked very carefully. If there is any dirt somewhere, they will clean it, wash it, fix everything… For this purpose, they brought the power supply there in order to properly check all the systems that are on the plane.

– Is the power supply not needed for takeoff?

– No. As far as I know, the airline said that they will now prepare the plane, put it in order and preserve it.

– Why preserve it? And for how long?

– Apparently, until spring. Now they won’t have time to move it somewhere – the rainy season is starting, the field will get wet. They say they are even planning to make some kind of makeshift hangar in the field to store the plane until spring. He will spend the winter in it. Well, in the spring, it seems, they express such hope that the plane will be finally restored, prepared, transported to the airfield, and it will continue to be used.

– Isn’t all this dangerous for its future passengers?

– What’s dangerous? The plane did not receive any damage at all during landing. The only thing, as they reported, was that the engine gained a little ground, and the nose gear was uncontrollable – it buried itself in the ground. Well, that means the engine blades and this nose shock absorber strut will now be put in complete order.

Yes, as I know, they have already looked at almost everything carefully. The rest – system controls, elevator, ailerons, flaps, spoilers – they are all in working order. They even repaired and restored this hydraulic system, which leaked.

– So you think this plane won’t be dismantled for parts?

– For what? He can still fly. Especially if you’re lucky with the crew.