In article ,
(Ramapriya) wrote:


I know cars and trucks tend to skid even at low speeds in sleet and on
ice, with braking often proving ineffectual. This leaves me wondering
why is it that we don't ever hear of aircraft skidding and going
off-track while taxiing or even during takeoff/landing? Is the lack of
such incidents only because of the meticulousness of ice clearance by
airport authorities?

It happens. I worked Crash/Rescue at a large airport for 20 years and
saw several aircraft that had problems on icy surfaces.

747 was blown off of icy taxiway by high winds, about $22 million to
repair the aircraft, some serious injuries.

747 landing on icy runway had a reverser problem and went off edge of
runway into deep snow.

747 taxiing on icy taxiway missed a turn going off edge.

747 taxiing to gate lost control on icy ramp striking some ground
equipment and another aircraft. The aircraft that was struck was
salvaged due to the damage.

DC-8 landing during snowstorm was unable to stop and nosewheel went just
a few feet of end of runway.

747 landing on icy runway with strong crosswind went off edge of runway
taking out several runway lights.

--
Dale L. Falk

There is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing
as simply messing around with airplanes.

http://home.gci.net/~sncdfalk/flying.html