The Gimli Glider incident is one of the most famous aviation mishaps in history, involving an Air Canada Boeing 767 on July 23, 1983. Here's a summary of the incident:
### Incident Summary
1. **Aircraft**: Air Canada Flight 143, a Boeing 767-233.
2. **Route**: Montreal to Edmonton, with a stopover in Ottawa.
3. **Problem**: The plane ran out of fuel mid-flight due to a series of miscalculations and misunderstandings regarding the metric system. The aircraft's fuel was measured in pounds instead of kilograms.
4. **Flight Crew**: Captain Robert Pearson and First Officer Maurice Quintal.
5. **Glide to Safety**: Despite losing both engines, the crew managed to glide the aircraft to a former Royal Canadian Air Force base, Gimli Industrial Park, which had been converted into a motor racing track.
6. **Landing**: The landing was challenging as the runway was being used for a car race. The aircraft touched down on a closed section of the runway, with the nose gear collapsing due to the hard landing. There were no fatalities, and only minor injuries were reported.
### Key Factors
- **Fuel Miscalculation**: A maintenance worker and the flight crew miscalculated the amount of fuel needed due to a misunderstanding between liters and kilograms.
- **Skillful Piloting**: Captain Pearson, an experienced glider pilot, used his skills to control the plane without engine power, while First Officer Quintal guided him to Gimli, where he had previously been stationed.
### Aftermath
- The incident highlighted the importance of proper training and understanding of the metric system in aviation.
- The aircraft was repaired and continued to serve for many years before being retired.
- The Gimli Glider incident remains a testament to the importance of pilot skill and calm decision-making under pressure.
