"Sorry, mate - I just didn't see ya"

[matspart3]

At Gloucester, we've had a lot of problems with runway incursions over an extended period of time. With multiple runways and a large number of movements, this is perhaps not surprising. We've done a lot of work with extra signage, markings, runway guard lights etc. but the biggest single causal factor, by a significant margin is pilot error. Experience and familiarity are no barrier; those involved range from solo students to a 15 000 hour ATPL who's been flying here for more than 30 years.

Our reporting culture is very good and our most frequently used holds are easily visible from the Tower. My personal suspicion is that it's a far bigger problem than is actually reported in GA community. I reckon it's perfectly possible to go all through the PPL and CPL syllabi (and, therefore, into the left hand seat of an airliner at a really confusing major international airport) without having undergone any form of 'mandatory' testing of ground manoeuvring or markings and signage etc.

[Dave Phillips]

Darren, this is not just about ground markings. Almost without exception the pilots/students I fly with display inadequate lookout. High wing drivers who do not clear into a turn or, whilst in a turn, stare straight ahead without exercising those rather expensive inertia reel seat belts installed on later versions. Low wing drivers who do not clear out of a turn. People staring at maps/GPS. Over-reliance on technology (PCAS etc). Flying with dirty windscreens. Failure to move the head.

I could go on for hours. The video above does not surprise me.

[ROG]

Kingjame--agree ref horn ---I put the horn suggestion forward some years ago after a student on a x country who had made a successfull landing starting taxying towards me as i was being filled by a bowser.-- (guess i"m not the only one to propose it.) --- Only lots of arm waving saved the situation as he " woke up" . There is just the odd occasion where it could help prevent an accident--some airhorn system perhaps.
Wonder if there is any reason why one could not be fitted--has anyone got one. ???

[mick w]

I remember a Jodel , with a silencer , having a " hooter " , for shifting the sheep from his strip .

[greggj]

Having read the report,and being a stude myself - I'm wondering. Shouldn't controller be spanked a bit too ? He new aircraft was landing, yet he issued instructions to pilot all the way to the apron. He told them to hold short of the runway, but wouldn't it be safer just to give instruction to the hold point first ? at least from safety perspective.

Problem there could be that they had a look indeed, but timing was such that the landing aircraft was just over the wing at the time they tried to clear the turn.

Otherwise, that was really close...

[vintage ATCO]

He was told to Hold Short and read it back. What more do you need? Another key phrase in the report, mentioned by the pilot himself, is Situational Awareness but it needs to be all the time not just whilst taxiing. Presumably the pilot of EOR was issued with landing clearance and read it back. Didn't the pilot of LWX hear this?

[greggj]

I think it was mentioned in the report, that pilot of LWX was busy discussing something with stude. So, probably they were not aware of it.

I did few things (which you won't find in my blog) when we got involved in a discussion with instructor that otherwise would have not happened - if I was fully focussed on the job.
Just goes to show you, that aircraft is not a place for chat - especially if it is a training flight.

[Monocock]

Shouldn't controller be spanked a bit too ? He new aircraft was landing, yet he issued instructions to pilot all the way to the apron.

It doesn't matter what the 'controller' says! If the approach isn't clear, it's best not to line up IMHO. When did 'controllers' get God-like status?!!!

[Keef]

As others have said: you don't move without the controller's say-so at an ATC airfield, but you still look both ways before venturing onto a runway, and you look where you are going while taxying.

I'm alive today because I look out of the aeroplane window, unlike the several suicidal pilots over the years who've flown straight through the track I was on (with me having right-of-way). If I were quicker off the mark, I'd also have photographs of said pilots with heads down reading their kneeboards instead of looking where they are going.

I'd love to have some seriously noisy air horns on the aeroplane!

[Hotelfox]

He was exceptionally lucky that he had sufficient speed on and to apply power and become airborne again, albeit with the stall warner.

I had a similar experience a few years back at East Midlands using 27 from from A1. I was cleared for line up and immediate departure. I duly progressed, repeating back the clearance and commenced the roll. I could then hear the controller say to another aircraft. "Line up behind the departing aircraft 27.
The next I saw was a C172 or C182 taxi out in front of us onto 27 .from Twy S. We cleared with 50 - 100ft
Some choice words were exchanged.

[lkamsner]

As a student, I was cleared twice at Moorabbin for t/o when an a/c was on final. First time, I was low time solo and I thought the a/c was close but the ATCO, being far more knowledgeable than me, knew I had time so I went. Next thing, I saw the landing a/c going around. Lesson learned and on returning to the clubhouse, the instructor who was landing gave me a good (although not angry) lecture on relying on one's eyes over ATC directions.

The second time, an a/c was at a similar position on final so I informed ATC that I would hold. He wouldn't clear me until there was no a/c on base or final.. made me wait an eternity - An a/c turned base and was cleared as number 1 to land.. I re-stated ready for departure and was duly held.. I made a mental note to next time ask the controller to "say again" in the hope the delay will change his mind. As it turned out, my aero club took over the ops at another rural airfield, so I went there instead.

[Jason P]

Scary stuff. In no way exonerating the pilot of the 172 coming on to the runway, but given the slight angle of the taxiway to the runway, and the approach of the landing AC, I wonder if the wing of the 172 obscured the approaching AC enough to make the pilot of the 172 believe nothing was there? The angle of the 172 to the runway, and the fact he was probably taxiing whilst on lookout could have rendered the approaching AC 'invisible' to him. Still no excuse, but maybe one factor.

[Flintstone]

Too many unknown factors, too many assumptions, too easy to be an armchair expert. I'll settle for a reminder to assume nothing, weave, listen, move my head around and maintain a good lookout.

[Steven Day]

fisticuffs, irrespective of what clearance they had

said rats404.

Really?

Remind me to keep out of your way.

[pilot2b]

I am still a student but learnt a good lesson in an early solo at uncontrolled airport while waiting for what seemed like ages while other aircraft were landing and a 1st solo student ready to enter runway before me.

I was holding but had my 172 positioned at right angle to runway rather than looking toward final and when the 2 aircraft I knew about had landed and vacated I started to move forward and announced entering runway. Just at that point a ground crew member said there was an aircraft on short final and I stopped and seen the aircraft touch down, I could not see because of the wing and thank God someone else was paying more attention than me.

From then I make sure I can see and always anounce what I am doing even if I think I am the only one around, bad enough to ruin my day without ruining someone elses too because of my mistake.