ATC tried to land a Hawker on top of me!

aloft

aloft

New Member
At SLC today, I call ready at rwy 17, tower clears me for takeoff, no immediacy to the clearance. I start to taxi toward but not yet onto the runway when a dude with a strong accent blurts out "ONE MILE!" on the radio. I start a turn to the right to clear the final approach path when tower yells out "CAPFLIGHT 4311 HOLD SHORT RUNWAY 17!" and it's suddenly apparent why as a Hawker on short final comes into my view. No problem, I'm still clear of the runway so I hit the brakes and announce holding short. The Hawker, of Mexican registry, lands, and I'm once again cleared for takeoff. I asked the controller if they considered that an incursion, he said negative, he'd have told the Hawker to go around if I'd crossed the white line. I could hear laughing in the background of the controller's transmissions and wondered what was so f'ing funny. I'm pretty sure I was in the clear and that if there was any transgression, it was on the tower controller, not me. Anybody think I should file an ASRS report?
 
If you really heard laughing you should have asked for the tower's number, taxied back and called them up. They work for you....hold them to it!!! To many controllers out there with bad attitudes. Call the up and let the supervisor know about the incident. If the supervisor doesn't show the proper attention then call the FAA. No excuses when you are holding short and they clear you to takeoff and almost get another plane landing on top of you.
 
You might want to fill out the ASRS report. Even if it is the towers fault I'm sure the FAA would want to know about this. Afterall, the incident reporting system is there not only to save your butt but also to provide information to the FAA regarding incursions and things like that. You know if you crossed that line without ATC permission they would have had you copy down a number and grilled you about it. I wouldn't let them hold a double standard....especially if they really were laughing about it.
 
I agree 100% with the previous two posts! Let's be thankful that you are able to share this story with us and not part of an accident that was caused by human error. If they were indeed laughing at what had just happened I would'nt even had taken off!
 
File a report. Remember what ASRS is an acronym for? It's not "Get Out Of Jail Free". :) More data is better.


Would I be going out on a limb to guess that you will be implementing some changes in your procedure for making sure the final approach path is clear prior to entering the runway? As one of your favorite people used to say: "Trust, but verify."
:)



(edit to add: )
That last paragraph sounded a little condescending upon re-read (not intended), so let me add as clarification that I make it a habit to always be at the Hold line orientated so that I can see the final approach course. If I have to have the plane parked at an angle, that's what I do.

Also, I wouldn't put too much effort into wondering about the laughing in the background. Most likely completely unrelated to you and your situation.
 
Aloft, what you should have done was placed your airplane in such a position as to be able to see the final approach path to the runway. Never, and I mean never take a controllers word for it. If you had done this, you would be able to say unable for traffic on final when the controller clears you for take-off.
 
I would only file a report on the bases of safety, not to protect myself because 'big brother' isn't coming after you - at least not because of that.
 
bob loblaw said:
Aloft, what you should have done was placed your airplane in such a position as to be able to see the final approach path to the runway. Never, and I mean never take a controllers word for it. If you had done this, you would be able to say unable for traffic on final when the controller clears you for take-off.
Click to expand...
:yeahthat: :yeahthat: :yeahthat: But that is water under the bridge and a lesson learned. I still would go through with the filing though.
 
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