From what I am reading it seems to me that the original layout of LAX is a significant contributor in incidents like this? (there not being a taxiway on which traffic can hold prior to crossing the inner). The fact of the matter is that with human beings in the loop, mistakes will always be made and it is therefore ABSOLUTELY essential that we do not design airports or ATC systems with compromises in them. Of course, the ideal cannot itself prevent accidents but in our business every compromise on the ideal increases the probability that human error will lead to an accident.
The LTMA has one or two such compromises designed into it which have been identified as requiring urgent solution (quote) "...on the grounds of passenger safety." The solution is due in 2009, by which time this significant danger will have existed unaddressed for over 5 years.
Relying on human beings not to be human in a safety related business is insanity.
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