Incident: Saudia A333 at Cairo on Jan 5th 2018, did not capture localizer
By Simon Hradecky, created Friday, Jan 5th 2018 16:20Z, last updated Friday, Jan 5th 2018 16:30Z
A Saudi Arabian Airlines Airbus A330-300, registration HZ-AQ18 performing flight SV-335 from Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) to Cairo (Egypt), was vectored to an ILS approach for runway 23R from the south, was cleared for the ILS approach to runway 23R intercepting the localizer from the south (with a left turn), however, before the aircraft reached the extended runway center line the aircraft began to turn onto a heading of about 210 crossing through the extended runway center line 23C again, reported established on localizer and was handed off to tower. Tower cleared the flight to land on runway 23R advising runway 23C was closed, then a few seconds later queried "confirm established runway 23R", then issued "climb to 2500 feet with runway heading", which the crew complied with, and issued a "immediately turn left heading 180 degrees" to another aircraft just becoming airborne on runway 23L. SV335 was subsequently turned north, the crew complained "what is going on", ATC explained they were vectored for runway 23R but appeared they were approaching runway 23C. The crew explained they had lost the LOC signal which was why they went through the localizer. The crew then advised they needed about 5 minutes to check their FMS programming and retune the ILS and requested vectors while working the FMS. ATC advised they would vector the aircraft for an approach to runway 23L, the crew confirmed they finally had a signal for ILS runway 23L, the aircraft was vectored for the ILS runway 23L and landed without further incident about 15 minutes after the missed approach.
The crew of an approach about 10 minutes later confirmed they did have the LOC signal for runway 23R and completed an uneventful landing on the ILS.
Metars:
HECA 051300Z 27016KT 4000 SA SCT025 BKN070 19/08 Q1013 NOSIG=
HECA 051230Z 25017KT 2000 -RA SCT025 BKN070 19/08 Q1012 NOSIG=
HECA 051200Z 27013KT 3000 SA SCT025 BKN070 19/08 Q1012 NOSIG=
HECA 051130Z 26020KT 3000 SA SCT025 BKN070 18/07 Q1012 NOSIG=
HECA 051100Z 26020KT 3000 SA SCT025 BKN070 18/07 Q1012 NOSIG=
HECA 051030Z 26025KT 3000 SA SCT025 BKN070 19/08 Q1012 NOSIG=
HECA 051000Z 26025KT 3000 SA SCT025 BKN070 19/08 Q1012 NOSIG=
HECA 050930Z 26021KT 2000 SA SCT025 BKN070 19/08 Q1012 NOSIG=
HECA 050900Z 24020KT 2000 SA SCT025 BKN070 18/09 Q1012 NOSIG=
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