Originally Posted by
BFSGrad
The plot thickens…
After push, the E75L (Brickyard 4736) queries ground about assigned runway. Ground essentially says (marginal audio) “if they said runway 33, expect it.” E75L requests taxi and ground instructs “runway 33, N, J, F, hold short of 1” (letters phonetically spoken). E75L correctly reads back taxi instructions.
Just prior to this instruction, ground incorrectly assigns runway 1 to GoJet (Lindbergh 4430) but uses runway 33 routing (1, K, F, hold short 1). GoJet queries this inconsistency and ground issues the correct taxi instructions (33, K, F, hold short 1).
The E75L subsequently is instructed “cross 4 at J, monitor tower,” which indicates ground is now incorrectly routing the E75L to runway 1. Appears that the E75L expecting to hear “cross 1 and 4 at F” executes this incorrect ground taxi instruction as part of its original routing to runway 33.
About 5 minutes after the incident, a new ground controller voice directs all aircraft to hold all push requests as a controller change is in progress. Planned controller changes are usually seamless with the only indication being a new voice.
Once again, the pilots crossed a runway that they were not cleared to cross. If they had used the technique that I suggested on the thread for the JFK incident, it would prevent this.
ATC: “Brickyard 4736 cross 4 at J, monitor tower”.
E75 PM: Transmits "Cross 4 at J, monitor tower Brickyard 4736"
E75 PF says: "Cross 4 at J, monitor tower" in order to have the runway number clearly in his mind.
E75 PF then looks at the red runway sign clearly in view and starts to say "runway 4" when he notices that the sign says runway 1 which does not match what he just said. He then refuses to move the aircraft further forward until there is clarification from ATC in order to get a clearance to cross a runway with a number that matches the sign. There may be some confusion until all clarification worked out but no runway incursion.
The problem is.....pilots are not looking at runway signs and making sure the number on the sign matches the runway they were cleared to cross. They are hearing a clearance to cross a runway and always assuming that it is the runway they expect to cross. Of course, 99.9% of the time, the clearance and the expectation align.
AA 106 @ JFK (13 Jan 23) - Page 9 - PPRuNe Forums