Originally Posted by
jondc9
for ATC to not visually scan the runway as the plane was cleared for takeoff would be a mistake.
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ATC is responsible for seperating all IFR aircraft, and not to scan the runway ( and see, by extension correct runway/aircraft configuration) would be WRONG>
TWR controllers are no supermen. They have no helicopter flying above the runways to see what is going on below . Those RWYs are located sometimes miles away from their control TWRs , and they do not have infra red vison to see at night or though fog.
Again, if you have the time, if it is CAVOK, if you can see the runway from where you are, or if you have a Surface Ground Movement radar , if it works, then yes, otherwise not feasable, period. Wrong, perhaps but a fact.
At least in Europe it works like this.
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Planeenglish : sorry, read too fast, did not see the humor. I owe you one ! But I do hope the guys in LEX have access to the CISM program .