Again runway incursion at Logan (BOS)?

[grimmrad]

Today (8/9/05) NPR reported that there has been another runway incursion at Logan airport recently. According to NPR a FedEx crossed an active runway, causing a Passenger jet to hold its take off. Since this seems to be the 2d incidence within few weeks it seems noteworthy, an inquiry is on the way according to NPR. Any more information?

Regards

[flynverted]

In yesterday's incident, the FedEx mechanic was taking an Airbus A300 to a hangar. The route required him to cross an active runway, where JetBlue Flight 441, bound for Tampa with 124 passengers and six crew members, was about to take off. At 7:55 a.m., air traffic controllers told the mechanic to ''hold short," or stop, before crossing the runway.

Peters said the mechanic, who was certified to move the airplane for engine maintenance, verbally acknowledged the tower's instructions, but did not stop. Air traffic controllers canceled the takeoff clearance for the JetBlue plane before it began rolling.

As the control tower tried frantically to make radio contact with the FedEx jet, Peters said the mechanic did not acknowledge the radio messages until after he had crossed the runway. ''He said: 'Yeah, I know. I crossed the runway,' or something like that," Peters said.

The FAA said it is investigating the event as a ''surface incident" and not a pilot deviation, because a pilot was not at the controls of the FedEx jet.


http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2005/08/09/close_calls_at_logan_stir_runway_plan/

[GOLF-INDIA BRAVO]

A Mechanic can taxi an aircraft over an active runway? Can this happen in Europe?

G-I-B

[TheOddOne]

Absolutely.

Happens here at LGW quite a bit.

Why not?

Engineers are just as competent as pilots within their training.

Cheers,

The Odd One

[Spitoon]

G-IB you have a point.

I mean, for heavens sake, the next thing you'll know there'll be non-pilots driving vehicles on the runway and then where will we be!!!!!!!

[grimmrad]

Thx flynverted for the info, missed it on boston.com.

Regards

[Beanbag]

From Airwise.com:

August 9, 2005
Aviation authorities are drafting new safety plans for Boston's Logan Airport after a series of runway mishaps, including the near-collision of two passenger jets, aviation officials said on Tuesday.

The announcement comes after a close shave on Monday when a FedEx cargo plane driven by a mechanic blundered across an active runway, forcing a passenger jet to delay takeoff -- the 14th runway mishap at Logan since October 2004.

"After he crossed the runway, the mechanic acknowledged that he should not have crossed the runway," said Jim Peters, a spokesman for Federal Aviation Administration.

Monday's incident followed a more serious near-miss on June 9 when a US Airways Boeing 737 bound for Philadelphia came within seconds of being struck by an Aer Lingus aircraft headed for Ireland taking off on an intersecting runway.

The US Airways jet avoided a collision by delaying takeoff and the two missed each other by 170 feet (52 metres).

Boston's Logan has recorded twice the number of runway incidents as similar-sized airports since October 2004, according to the FAA and state port authority Massport.

"While there has been an increase of incidents at Logan over the previous years we are working to formulate a plan and identify what can be done to eliminate them," said Peters.

"You're not going to have a perfect system. What you can do is take steps to help prevent the incidents," he added.

The latest safety plan was being compiled by the FAA, Massport and commercial airlines which use the airport. It was now in its draft form, said Peters, declining to comment on its proposed measures.

(Reuters)


Sounds like they may be thinking there's a systemic issue at BOS