TNAG-2856-FCO40-4109-Hong-Kong-compensation-claim-regarding-Korean-Air-Lines-Flig-1993 — Page 109

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18:25:55 to 18:26:35, and six radio transmissions between KE 007 and Tokyo Radio from 18:26:55 to 18:27:21. Based on the times of these radio transmissions the beginning of the CVR elapsed time 00:00 was 17:54:10 and the end of the CVR recording at elapsed time 33:36 was 18:27:46.

1.15.4.2 The CVR and the DFDR data were correlated based on the radio transmission keying parameters, which also identified the radio used. There were fifteen radio transmissions on the CVR from KE 007 to KE 015 between 18:03:19 and 18:08:37 on VHF 3, and ten radio transmissions on the CVR from KE 007 to Tokyo Radio on HF 1 also registered by the DFDR.

1.15.4.3

The Anchorage IFSS recordings were adjusted to Tokyo time based on twenty-eight radio transmissions recorded on both the IFSS tape and the Tokyo ATC tape, as well as on twelve radio transmissions from KE 007 and registered by the DFDR. The Anchorage ARTCC recordings were adjusted to Tokyo time based on seven radio transmissions from KE 007 and registered by the DFDR. Equally, the Anchorage CD/TWR/APP recordings were adjusted based on seven radio transmissions from KE 007.

1.15.4.4

The USSR Air Defence command centre recordings were adjusted to Tokyo radio time by correlating the SU-15 interceptor pilot's radio communications "launch" and "target is destroyed" with the times for missile detonation evident on the CVR and the DFDR records.

1.16

1.16.1

1.16.1.1

Additional information

The USSR interceptor pilot

The ICAO team was unable to meet with the SU-15 interceptor pilot in February 1993, but was provided with articles published by Izvestia in January 1991 containing extensive interviews with him. The contents of the articles were confirmed as authentic by representatives of the Russian Federation. Paragraphs 1.16.1.2 to 1.16.1.5 contain a summary of the interceptor pilot's statements as contained in these articles.

1.16.1.2 The interceptor pilot stated that 1983 was a difficult year for Soviet interceptor pilots in the Far East region as there had been numerous intrusions into Soviet airspace by military aircraft of the United States. On 31 August 1983 he was based at Sokol on Sakhalin Island when at 06:00 hours local time (18:00 hours UTC) he was ordered to be airborne. Eight minutes later he was informed that an aircraft was violating Soviet airspace. He soon saw the intruding aircraft through thin clouds, and he described it as a flying dot about two to three centimetres across, with its flashing lights (rotating beacon)

on.

1.16.1.3

The interceptor pilot described how he then locked on with his radar sight. Staying about 13 km from the target, he reported to ground command that he had locked-on. He was a short while later ordered to destroy the target, but that order was rescinded and he was instead told to match altitude with the target and to force it to land. He approached the target from below and started flashing his navigational lights. He was further ordered to fire warning bursts. More than 200 rounds were fired. of the armour-piercing variety, not tracers, as his aircraft did not have the latter. He also reported that he did not try to establish radio contact with the aircraft because he would not have had the time to do so, he would have had to tune to that frequency and in so doing he would have lost contact with his ground command.