Incident Overview
On 7 June 2015, at 21:11 UTC, an Airbus A320, registration CS-TKJ, operated by SATA Internacional as flight RZO175, was departing from Porto Airport (LPPR) on a scheduled service to Ponta Delgada (LPPD). The aircraft carried 152 passengers and 7 crew members. The weather was reported as scattered convective clouds, visibility greater than 10 kilometers, temperature 23°C, and wind from south-southwest at low intensity.
Flight Details
At the time, air traffic control (ATC) was sequencing all traffic to and from Porto Airport, including flights from Ryanair, TAP, and Lufthansa, for runway 17. While still at Stand 31, the flight crew of RZO175 inquired about the possibility of using runway 35. ATC responded, "I'LL ADVISE AT PUSH BACK DEPENDING ON TRAFFIC BUT I DON'T THINK SO." The flight was subsequently cleared for push-back and engine start, then instructed to taxi to the holding point for runway 17 via taxiway Foxtrot, and to back-track on runway 17 for a full-length takeoff. During taxi, ATC requested the crew to expedite the taxi; the crew acknowledged and complied. Upon reaching the takeoff position, ATC cleared the flight for takeoff: "AIR AÇORES 175, WIND 1-9-0 DEGREES, 5 KNOTS, RWY 1-7, CLEARED FOR TAKE OFF." The crew read back the clearance. After takeoff, RZO175 was cleared to climb to flight level 240 and subsequently instructed to contact Lisbon Control.
Brake Temperature Incident
The commander later reported that at the start of taxi, the brake temperature indicated 250°C. During the takeoff roll, the temperature reached 300°C, the maximum limit, as confirmed by an ECAM message "BRAKES HOT." The commander chose not to discontinue the takeoff and called "GO." The aircraft kept the landing gear extended until the brake temperature decreased to between 180 and 200°C.
Investigation
The commander alleged that pressure from ATC prevented the crew from performing an adequate performance calculation for the takeoff. In response, the GPIAA (Gabinete de Prevenção e Investigação de Acidentes com Aeronaves) opened a safety investigation into the incident.