WRAeS Talk: What Really Happened to the Concorde at Gonesse?

Many people will say that the Concorde accident at Gonesse, Le Bourget was caused by a metal strip on the runway, and that certainly happened and was the basis of the French Judiciary's case against several defendants.  But can a tyre burst really be the cause of total loss of a properly certificated airliner?  How did it do so much damage and why are there so many other theories around?  This lecture will describe, from the perspective of one of the investigators who took part, what we actually know, what is logically deduced and what is just assumption and speculation.  The way this information was analysed and how the aircraft was safely returned to service will be described.

For more information please contact: wraesmemsec@outlook.com

Meetings are held in the Brooklands Museum Clubhouse.

The Brooklands Club Members bar is open to us from 5:45pm – please use card payment for drinks. Food can also be ordered from the Bar and will be served at 5:45pm

All are welcome (RAeS membership is not required). There is an entry donation of £5.00 (please use card payment) at the door. This donation is not expected from those under the age of 21 or holders of a current Student Union card.

Certificates of Attendance for C.Eng or CPD purposes are available on request.

Entry is via Campbell Gate only, Brooklands Road, KT13 0QN from 5.45pm.

Speaker: Alan Simmons M.Sc. C. Eng. F.R.Ae.S.

Alan started his career as a Technician Apprentice here at Weybridge with the British Aircraft Corporation from 1965 to 1970. On completion of his Apprenticeship he worked in the design office of several predecessor companies of British Aerospace and gained design experience on the VC10, BAC One-Eleven, Concorde, Hawk, Harrier and Tornado.

From 1979 to 1987 he was a Fight Safety Investigator for British Aerospace responsible for the company investigation and accident prevention on the VC10, Vanguard & Viscount fleets. Alan also has responsibilities for Concorde and the BAC One-Eleven.

This experience lead to his joining the AAIB at Farnborough in 1987 until his retirement as a Principal Inspector in 2008. During his time at the AAIB he participated or managed many accidents investigations including the PanAm B747 at Lockerbie, David Coulthard's Learjet crash at Lyons, France and the Concorde accident at Paris.  He have been appointed adviser to a number of military Boards of Inquiry for Tornado, Harrier and Hawk accidents.

Alan is the Vice-Chairman of the Weybridge Branch of the Royal Aeronautical Society.