A few facts, but dont let these get in the way of a story about "pilots not paying attention"
The lights were not to US standard (their words) and were upgraded 3 months after the event. The approach lights to RW 12 should have been back lit, they were not and were invisible from 36ft, cockpit ht. (2 FAA inspectors and the regional NTSB inspector in question agreed) The lights that lead off the Q area of RW 30 were bi-directional and should have omni -directional, fact. So guess what, you cant see them except over yr shoulder looking backwards and then only for a second. Why hasnt this happened before? well it has, VS ended up in the grass. There are very few 747 operators that go to MIA, very few land on rw 30, so very few that venture down that end of the RW. The westerly RW was asked for and was declined. When the error was realised, the airplane was stopped and assistance asked for, the safest thing to do.
2 out of the 3 pilots had landed on RW 30 just prior to the incident in daylight and had gd mental model about the expected picture, yet were still confused when faced with night landing. Does anybody here think that non standard and confusing lights could possibly could have contributed to the cause of the incident??? Let me re-iterate, non standard and confusing lights.
to quote from NTSB report
"They recommended that runway end lights be placed behind each runway 12 approach light and that runway turnoff guidance lighting be installed."
The FAA (both ex DC10 trng Capt) inspectors agreed 100% and when drove down the RW the following night, (MIA closed the RW) they couldnt see the RW exits either and they were in a car doing 5mph. Is anybody convinced yet?
The FAA produced a circular prompted by this event
"However, after further consideration, we are currently reviewing our standards for runway end lighting and anticipate additional changes"
So, by inference, surely this means that there could be a problem with the lighting at MIA in particular.
Also, same report.
"It was noted that, in addition to runway 12/30, runway 8R/26L at MIA had similar
threshold lights that did not meet the current standards."
The crew were fully exonerated of any blame by the FAA inspector, and the NTSB inspector and more importantly BA at the time.
Please feel free to add, 411A, you are a kn** and have obviously never taxied a big airplane, must hurt.