do not help us at all."[1] The captain also stated that "they make us work to maximum, up to maximum...." About 0120:28, the captain further stated, "probably this way [unintelligible words], hotel expenses will be saved for cabin crews, and maximize the flight hours. Anyway, they make us [747] classic guys work to maximum." [2] About 0121:13, the captain stated, "eh...really...sleepy."
About 0121:59, the first officer stated, "captain, Guam condition is no good." About 0122:06, the CERAP controller informed the flight crew that the automatic terminal information service (ATIS) information Uniform[3] was current and that the altimeter setting was 29.86 inches of mercury (Hg). About 0122:11, the first officer responded, "Korean eight zero one is checked uniform;" his response did not acknowledge the altimeter setting. About 0122:26, the captain stated, "uh...it rains a lot." About 0123:45, the captain stated, "request twenty miles deviation later on...to the left as we are descending." About 0124:02, the first officer questioned, "don't you think it rains more? in this area, here?" The captain then stated, "left, request deviation" and "one zero mile." About 0124:30, the controller approved the first officer's request to deviate "...one zero mile left of track [for weather]."
The CVR then recorded about 6 minutes of discussion among the flight crew regarding the weather conditions and the deviation around the weather. About 0126:25, the flight engineer stated, "it's Guam, Guam." About 0131:17, the first officer reported to the CERAP controller that the airplane was "...clear of Charlie Bravo [cumulonimbus clouds]" and requested "radar vectors for runway six left." The controller instructed the flight crew to fly a heading of 120?. After this transmission, the flight crew performed the approach checklist and verified the radio frequency for the ILS to runway 6L. About 0138:49, the CERAP controller instructed flight 801 to "...turn left heading zero nine zero join localizer;" the first officer acknowledged this transmission. At that time, flight 801 was descending through 2,800 feet msl with the flaps extended 10? and the landing gear up.
About 0139:30, the first officer said, "glideslope [several unintelligible words]...localizer capture [several unintelligible words]...glideslope...did." About 0139:44, the controller stated, "Korean Air eight zero one cleared for ILS runway six left approach...glideslope unusable."[4] The first officer responded, "Korean eight zero one roger...cleared ILS runway six left;" his response did not acknowledge that the glideslope was unusable.
- ↑ The accident flight was scheduled to remain on the ground at Guam for 3½ hours and then return to Seoul at 0930 (0830 Seoul local time).
- ↑ In the aviation industry, a "747 classic" refers to the -100, -200, -300, and -SP (special purpose) models of the Boeing 747 airplane. Classic 747s have three crewmember seats and mostly analog (mechanical) gauges.
- ↑ ATIS information Uniform noted the Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) for runway 6L, which stated that the ILS glideslope was "out of service until further notice." See section 1.7.1.
- ↑ The CERAP controller did not advise the flight crew of its position. FAA Order 7110.65, "Arrival Instructions," section 5-9-4, paragraph (a) states that a controller is to provide the flight crew with a "position relative to a fix on the final approach course. If none is portrayed on the radar display or if none is prescribed in the procedure, issue position information relative to the navigation aid which provides final approach guidance or relative to the airport."
