FDR Shows Possible ATC Error in Gol Midair

Press reports out of Brazil indicate that the flight recorder transcript from the ExcelAire’s Embraer Legacy executive jet that was clipped by Gol’s 737 indicates air traffic controllers instructed the American pilots, who have been forced to remain in country, to fly at the same altitude as the airliner. Instructions were to fly at 37,000 feet until intersecting with the Manaus airport. That altitude contradicted the pilot’s filed flight plan and as an odd-numbered altitude should be reserved for southbound flights. Brazilian authorities have yet to officially release the transcript.