AVIATION/ BEA TO PROBE AF FL445 INCIDENT

The French BEA has annnounced that they have launched an investigation into the incident involving an AIR FRANCE A330 last week. On November 29, AF Flight 445, on International Service from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to Paris, France, issued a MAYDAY while overhead the Atlantic, after encountering severe turbulence. The aircraft encountered the severe turbulence about 4 hours after departing Rio, and the Pilots brought the aircraft down to a lower flight level. Air France says that the crew could not raise ATC, and opted instead to transmit an emergency message over the radio to advise of the change in altitude."After half an hour of moderate to severe turbulence, the flight continued normally," the carrier adds. Air France says the cockpit crew carried out its actions "in strict accordance with procedures". The A330 was transporting 203 passengers and 12 crew. The investigation was expected as the incident occurred in the same general area where AF Flight 447 was lost on June 1, and both incidents occurred about 4 hours into their flights. In addition, both incidents involve the same type of aircraft, and both aircraft were on similar flight paths. The BEA said that a probe of the incident may aid in their investigation into the crash of AF FL447. The BEA is expected to release a 2nd update on the AF FL447 investigation on December 17.