Narrative:

On a visual approach to runway 27R in atl, at 180 ft AGL and less than 1/2 mi from runway threshold, atl tower cleared a DC9 to cross runway 27R at taxiway J or K approximately 3000 ft from approach end. My crew was not advised of said crossing aircraft. Tower was using 2 separate frequencys for arrs and departures on runways 27R and 28 (temporary runway due to construction), so my crew heard no communication with other aircraft. Subsequently phone conversation with tower supervisor revealed that ATC position is if tail of crossing aircraft is clear of runway before arriving aircraft crosses threshold, then all is well. He did, however, acknowledge that 'courtesy' required that the tower operator 'advise' us of crossing aircraft, which he did not do. Factors: 1) lack of communication from tower. 2) 2 frequencys in use, removing 'situational awareness' of what other aircraft are doing. 3) complacent attitude of ATC supervisor.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: TWR CTLR CLRS A DC9 TO TAXI ACROSS THE ACTIVE RWY 27R WHILE AN ATR72 WAS ON A VERY SHORT FINAL AT ATL, GA.

Narrative: ON A VISUAL APCH TO RWY 27R IN ATL, AT 180 FT AGL AND LESS THAN 1/2 MI FROM RWY THRESHOLD, ATL TWR CLRED A DC9 TO CROSS RWY 27R AT TXWY J OR K APPROX 3000 FT FROM APCH END. MY CREW WAS NOT ADVISED OF SAID XING ACFT. TWR WAS USING 2 SEPARATE FREQS FOR ARRS AND DEPS ON RWYS 27R AND 28 (TEMPORARY RWY DUE TO CONSTRUCTION), SO MY CREW HEARD NO COM WITH OTHER ACFT. SUBSEQUENTLY PHONE CONVERSATION WITH TWR SUPVR REVEALED THAT ATC POS IS IF TAIL OF XING ACFT IS CLR OF RWY BEFORE ARRIVING ACFT CROSSES THRESHOLD, THEN ALL IS WELL. HE DID, HOWEVER, ACKNOWLEDGE THAT 'COURTESY' REQUIRED THAT THE TWR OPERATOR 'ADVISE' US OF XING ACFT, WHICH HE DID NOT DO. FACTORS: 1) LACK OF COM FROM TWR. 2) 2 FREQS IN USE, REMOVING 'SITUATIONAL AWARENESS' OF WHAT OTHER ACFT ARE DOING. 3) COMPLACENT ATTITUDE OF ATC SUPVR.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.