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2 Air Canada planes have a near miss
Although this occurred on March 8,2020 it just goes to show you that reducing the number of aircraft flying doesn't reduce some dangers. Also makes you wonder what's going to happen at thousands of airports that now have almost no activity. It's nesting season, and birds will be very happy to have all this new airspace. The rule of unexpected consequences applies. (simpleflying.com) More...Sort type: [Top] [Newest]
"So the issue / item I wonder about was why were the folks in control of 777 not, apparently, upon moving to the runway, not looking in front of the plane down the runway and observing the prior plane was still on the ground, regardless of what any tower controller said?" My thots exactly..when immediately cleared to do a rollout onto the runway, then a "cleared for take-off", why would they not remain put and ask tower where the previous craft was since they could not, obviously, see it airborne yet, when it should have been.
This is sheer speculation, as I'm not familiar with Toronto Pearson in the least and I'm no pilot, but I can offer up at least a possibility of how pilots of the 777 could possibly lose an aircraft down a runway even on a bright, sunny day. One of the usual spotting locations at my local airport, Lambert in St. Louis, is a parking lot at the end of runway 11. When you're spotting there you get a very nice view down almost the entire length of the runway. I say almost because the runway isn't flat. When an aircraft begins its takeoff roll it's clearly visible, but a few thousand feet down the runway it drops out of sight completely for a good few seconds because there's a hill at the east end of the runway. You climb up for a minute and then drop down before you begin to actually climb out. And that hill is enough to fully obscure even a fairly sizable aircraft like a 737 or an A320 to an observer on the ground.
Now, if you're in a 777 a little closer to the top of the hill and quite a distance above the ground maybe you'd still be able to see an E190. And you really should notice that the aircraft you're following isn't visible climbing out. But I'd not want to bet my life on it. Could it be there's a similar hill at Pearson? I don't know that any runway outside maybe Kansas is truly completely flat. Could terrain be a part of our explanation?
Now, if you're in a 777 a little closer to the top of the hill and quite a distance above the ground maybe you'd still be able to see an E190. And you really should notice that the aircraft you're following isn't visible climbing out. But I'd not want to bet my life on it. Could it be there's a similar hill at Pearson? I don't know that any runway outside maybe Kansas is truly completely flat. Could terrain be a part of our explanation?
should never have been cleared for takeoff
ATC cleared for takeoff within the 6000' rule. It is also up to the P.I.C. to pay attention to surroundings and when something isn't right, take notice and inform. While I agree that Embraer was not airborne yet, when cleared, 606's Captain should have noticed and taken action, telling ATC they did not see it airborne and to confirm NOT a "Roger AC-606 cleared for takeoff" and then start the takeoff roll.
again...as an old tower controller I would NEVER have cleared the succeeding aircraft for takeoff until I was SURE the previous departing aircraft was 6000 ft+ and AIRBORNE... pilot wasn't watching...controller wasn't watching...
I'm showing my ignorance here, but, how in all that's holy, could a controller issue the okay to take off while not watching?
I don't know...but there was a bog screwup on both parties
So the issue / item I wonder about was why were the folks in control of 777 not, apparently, upon moving to the runway, not looking in front of the plane down the runway and observing the prior plane was still on the ground, regardless of what any tower controller said?
The article does discuss other relative thoughts (hey, nice to see an article so well written with facts vs. BS for a change) and does note the 777 did stay clear of E190 (how much, I did not see it say), so maybe the E190 initially still appeared moving forward to the 777 as it powered up, and it took the necessary time for the 777 to react and come to a stop. I.e. I have been told to take a runway (and often cleared for take-off) while I could still see a prior aircraft on the runway.