DFC
Yes, very much a matter of trying to clean up after the event. The sad fact is that we should all know that safety starts at the planning stage; or so the CAA tells everyone, yet an airport layout was approved that was totally dependent on procedures rather than design. What a shame that the CAA didn’t object at the Planning Inquiry. or that the AAIB didn’t use this incident to draw attention to the poor design. Never mind they will have another opportunity with the latest incident with BMIBaby before a big accident makes them take action.
They could start by reviewing the close proximity to the crossing Holding Points close to runway 24R. Yes we all know that they comply with ICAO criteria, but that doesn’t mean that they are a safe place to hold aircraft when 24R is the active landing runway. A 747 on the edge of the runway is mighty close to the nose of an aircraft at the holding points and as the Gerona accident proved a heavy landing that takes away the dogbox has all sorts of unexpected consequences.
Last edited by sky9; 18th Nov 2004 at 12:53.