Excel B767 and bmibaby B737 collision at Manchester

[MOR]

Norman Goering and others

The design of the taxiways and hold points is such that clearances are ensured for the aircraft that use them. The point of the yellow line you follow, is that if you are on it, lateral clearances are ensured - assuming that everybody else is doing as they are told.

Or do you perhaps believe that the taxiway you are pushed back onto may not ensure that you clear the tails of all the aircraft that you pass as you taxi out? The idea is clearly absurd.

Now, please explain to me how, if you cannot even see your wingtip, you can ensure a lateral clearance? Do you send the F/O out with a tape measure?

And finally, for those who do not seem to know the rules, I offer the following:

CAP493 1.2.2

"In order to execute his duties an aerodrome controller has authority over aircraft, vehicles and personnel on the manoeuvring area and aircraft moving on the apron."

In other words, a taxi clearance is essentially no different to a takeoff clearance .

Nobody is suggesting blindly taxiing into collisions... that is absurd.

See also CAP168 7.6.1 for an explanation of taxiway clearances, if you can be bothered.

High Wing Drifter

The controller doesn't need to know per se , it is the inbuilt clearances in the design of the manoeuvring area markings that ensure lateral clearances (if everyone is going where they are told to go).

So, for example, if you are taxiing at CDG on the parallel taxiways (such as B and Q), you know that no matter what is taxiing the other way, as long as you are both on your centrelines, you can't hit each other. Controllers know if there is a clearance issue for certain types on specific taxiways, and separate them accordingly (Birmingham being a good example). See CAP168 7.6.1, as mentioned above, for more info (or if you have trouble sleeping).