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:<br /><br />### Incident Summary<br /><br />1. **Aircraft**: Air Canada Flight 143, a Boeing 767-233.<br />2. **Route**: Montreal to Edmonton, with a stopover in Ottawa.<br />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.<br />4. **Flight Crew**: Captain Robert Pearson and First Officer Maurice Quintal.<br />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.<br />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.<br /><br />### Key Factors<br /><br />- **Fuel Miscalculation**: A maintenance worker and the flight crew miscalculated the amount of fuel needed due to a misunderstanding between liters and kilograms.<br />- **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.<br /><br />### Aftermath<br /><br />- The incident highlighted the importance of proper training and understanding of the metric system in aviation.<br />- The aircraft was repaired and continued to serve for many years before being retired.<br />- The Gimli Glider incident remains a testament to the importance of pilot skill and calm decision-making under pressure.
