EVA Air taking off from the taxiway
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EVA Air taking off from the taxiway
Saw the article below on the Anchorage Daily News this morning. Apparently this happened on the 5th of Novermber. This is the first I've heard of it:
Cargo jet takes off on taxiway; FAA investigates
Error is second in four years; safety a concern
By DOUG O'HARRA
Anchorage Daily News
An Asia-bound cargo jet was reported taking off from a taxiway instead of its assigned runway at the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport earlier this month, prompting an investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration.
The incident, if confirmed, would mark the second time in four years that a large commercial aircraft launched from a taxiway instead of turning northwest up the runway that ends near Point Woronzof, as directed by air traffic controllers.
On Nov. 5, a MD-11 freight jet operated by Taiwan-based EVA Air was cleared to fly from runway 32, which extends more than two miles from the airport terminal area toward Knik Arm, said Scott Erickson, a safety investigator with the National Transportation Safety Board in Anchorage.
The jet had originally been moving toward a different runway, but the air traffic control tower notified the EVA Air crew that runway 32 was available and gave permission to take off there, Erickson said.
The NTSB was notified that the jet turned in the correct direction, but went up the taxiway that runs parallel to the runway on its west side, Erickson said.
Runways are the broad concrete expanses where aircraft take off and land. Taxiways are the narrower access roads used by jets and planes to reach the runways for takeoff, or move to the terminal after landing.
No other aircraft was on the taxiway at the time, and the EVA Air jet apparently flew to Taipei as planned, Erickson said.
This particular taxiway, designated "Y," is almost as long as the runway, according to an airport diagram.
"Any time you have an aircraft that doesn't follow the directions of the (air traffic) controller, it kind of puts a safety deficit in the system," Erickson said. "The FAA is looking into it."
FAA spokesman Allen Kenitzer confirmed an investigation was under way but would not comment further.
Messages left with EVA Air in Anchorage and other offices were not returned Monday.
In January 2002, a China Airlines jet carrying about 250 passengers and crew was directed to take off from runway 32, toward Point Woronzof. Instead, the jet accelerated west on another taxiway, this one only about half as long as the runway.
It barely cleared the ground: its landing gear scratched twin grooves in the snow berm as the jet became airborne. Taiwanese air safety authorities later suspended the pilot for eight months and the first officer for seven months.
The Seattle-Tacoma International Airport has experienced similar mishaps, the Seattle Times reported Sunday. At least eight times since 1999, aircraft have mistaken a certain taxiway for a runway. Three aircraft actually landed, the Times said, while five changed their flight paths at the last minute.
Cargo jet takes off on taxiway; FAA investigates
Error is second in four years; safety a concern
By DOUG O'HARRA
Anchorage Daily News
An Asia-bound cargo jet was reported taking off from a taxiway instead of its assigned runway at the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport earlier this month, prompting an investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration.
The incident, if confirmed, would mark the second time in four years that a large commercial aircraft launched from a taxiway instead of turning northwest up the runway that ends near Point Woronzof, as directed by air traffic controllers.
On Nov. 5, a MD-11 freight jet operated by Taiwan-based EVA Air was cleared to fly from runway 32, which extends more than two miles from the airport terminal area toward Knik Arm, said Scott Erickson, a safety investigator with the National Transportation Safety Board in Anchorage.
The jet had originally been moving toward a different runway, but the air traffic control tower notified the EVA Air crew that runway 32 was available and gave permission to take off there, Erickson said.
The NTSB was notified that the jet turned in the correct direction, but went up the taxiway that runs parallel to the runway on its west side, Erickson said.
Runways are the broad concrete expanses where aircraft take off and land. Taxiways are the narrower access roads used by jets and planes to reach the runways for takeoff, or move to the terminal after landing.
No other aircraft was on the taxiway at the time, and the EVA Air jet apparently flew to Taipei as planned, Erickson said.
This particular taxiway, designated "Y," is almost as long as the runway, according to an airport diagram.
"Any time you have an aircraft that doesn't follow the directions of the (air traffic) controller, it kind of puts a safety deficit in the system," Erickson said. "The FAA is looking into it."
FAA spokesman Allen Kenitzer confirmed an investigation was under way but would not comment further.
Messages left with EVA Air in Anchorage and other offices were not returned Monday.
In January 2002, a China Airlines jet carrying about 250 passengers and crew was directed to take off from runway 32, toward Point Woronzof. Instead, the jet accelerated west on another taxiway, this one only about half as long as the runway.
It barely cleared the ground: its landing gear scratched twin grooves in the snow berm as the jet became airborne. Taiwanese air safety authorities later suspended the pilot for eight months and the first officer for seven months.
The Seattle-Tacoma International Airport has experienced similar mishaps, the Seattle Times reported Sunday. At least eight times since 1999, aircraft have mistaken a certain taxiway for a runway. Three aircraft actually landed, the Times said, while five changed their flight paths at the last minute.
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Please excuse my critism because I was not there with the Eva crew but wouldnt it be quite evident that taxiway lights are blue as opposed to the white runway lights?
my questions are
1. How fatigued where the crew?
2. What was the visibility?
3. Was the F/O afraid of the skipper?
4. What was their recency of experience at this airfield?
I feel terrible that this can happen to a crew.
I feel that there must be some underlying issues for this to happen.
my questions are
1. How fatigued where the crew?
2. What was the visibility?
3. Was the F/O afraid of the skipper?
4. What was their recency of experience at this airfield?
I feel terrible that this can happen to a crew.
I feel that there must be some underlying issues for this to happen.
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Runways are the broad concrete expanses where aircraft take off and land. Taxiways are the narrower access roads used by jets and planes to reach the runways for takeoff, or move to the terminal after landing.
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10 DME
Two different taxiway. Both were suppose to takeoff on RWY 32. China Airlines took off on Kilo to the west, parallel to 25R, 90 degrees off. EVA took off on taxiway Yankee which parallels to RWY 32.
Don't know what time of the day or night it happened or whether or not it was snowing at the time. It's now (as of last night) -10, -sn...
From experience, it can be difficult at times especially when requesting full lenght since the holding point for 32 is actually on RWY 07L.
Don't know the crew compostion, whether Chinese, Latin American, Anglo or Phillipino...?
Two different taxiway. Both were suppose to takeoff on RWY 32. China Airlines took off on Kilo to the west, parallel to 25R, 90 degrees off. EVA took off on taxiway Yankee which parallels to RWY 32.
Don't know what time of the day or night it happened or whether or not it was snowing at the time. It's now (as of last night) -10, -sn...
From experience, it can be difficult at times especially when requesting full lenght since the holding point for 32 is actually on RWY 07L.
Don't know the crew compostion, whether Chinese, Latin American, Anglo or Phillipino...?
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Eva Air has apparently gone the cheap route for the recruitment of flight deck crew, so I'm not surprised in the slightest that this has happened....
Wonder when the light in the upper storey will go on...?
Wonder when the light in the upper storey will go on...?
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this http://www.vision.net.au/~apaterson/aviation/asiana_anchorage.htm is still my favourite.
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But....
Wouldn't the Flight Engineer be mentioning/interrupting/shouting in their collective ears when they made any attempt to advance the thrust levers when not on the..............
errrrr sorry, I forgot.....we don't need Flight Engineers nowdays, the two pilots are never distracted or miss important indications or caught out wondering 'how it works' or not aware of the consequences of what they are doing/about to do!
If "I told yous so" rings a bell..........
Pretty soon it'll be like Big Ben on Newyears!!
Cheers, (I feel better now!)
FD
Wouldn't the Flight Engineer be mentioning/interrupting/shouting in their collective ears when they made any attempt to advance the thrust levers when not on the..............
errrrr sorry, I forgot.....we don't need Flight Engineers nowdays, the two pilots are never distracted or miss important indications or caught out wondering 'how it works' or not aware of the consequences of what they are doing/about to do!
If "I told yous so" rings a bell..........
Pretty soon it'll be like Big Ben on Newyears!!
Cheers, (I feel better now!)
FD
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An Asia-bound cargo jet was reported taking off from a taxiway instead of its assigned runway at the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport
GD&L
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No mention of weather...? I have seen portions of runway lights and taxiway lights covered with freshly plowed snow. Not to make any excuses, but under certain circumstances, given a low visibility situation at night, differentiating between snow covered taxiways and runways can be a challenge. Tunning the ILS for the respective runway after line-up will help if there's any doubt. 
quidquid excusatio prandium pro
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At certain times of the day, both Romeo & Yankee taxiways (parallel to 32 on each side) are in heavy use by Fedex, UPS and Northwest, all of whose ramps are at the departure end of 32. In low viz, like it was early this morning during the heavy snowfall, this could have been a horror show. As if moose(s?) aren’t enough.
Anyone can make a mistake, but in this case, must agree with 411A, time for a Taipei Reality Check(ride).
Anyone can make a mistake, but in this case, must agree with 411A, time for a Taipei Reality Check(ride).