Originally Posted by
krismiler
The tower controller has a very good view of the runway and would/should have been watching the aircraft to confirm its arrival and hand him over to ground frequency once vacated. He doesn't notice that the wheels aren't down, it isn't his job to check and everyone else manages to do it correctly. Possibly the view is distorted by the shimmering heat, dirty windows or fasting for the last nine hours.
The internet Jepp plate from 4 years ago indicates that the VCR is some 3000m from the 25L threshold. Some 750m from 07R threshold.
Dirty windows...is this often an issue?
Quote: ”
it isn’t his job to check” ~ it will be interesting to read the accident report as to whether your assertion is how ATCOs are taught during their training, and whether their equivalent of MATS part 2
(ATC local instructions/SOPs) makes any reference to looking at landing aircraft.
I do accept that given all the protections afforded to A320, a wheel up landing (in error) must be an exceptionally rare event.
10 to the minus 10 (and counting)