Narrative:

Controller just assumed local control position. Did not know that carj was in position and hold on runway 05. DC9 on short final noticed aircraft's lights on runway and questioned controller. DC9 went around. This is at least the second instance where aircraft has gone around with another aircraft in position on runway 05. Problem, in september terminal expansion was opened, it has new ramp lights with red obstruction lights. From the tower these lights blend in with runway lights at the approach end of runway 05. Aircraft are not visible on taxiway 'a,' run-up area, or holding short. It is very difficult to see aircraft in position and hold. Natca has requested airport to lower and shield ramp lights. No action. Natca requested approach end runway 5 be designated not visible from tower at night, so taxi into position and hold not be used, no action. FAA says aircraft are visible. Using binoculars. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter stated that the lighting interference in identifying aircraft in position on runway 5 is worse since the new terminal extension has higher red obstruction lights. However, the runway approach area can be seen with the use of binoculars. Also can be seen during day light hours without binoculars. The reporter further stated that he was not the tower controller involved in this incident, but had over heard other controllers relating this incident, and decided to report it.

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OF A DC9 NOTICED ACFT LIGHTS AT APCH END OF BUF RWY 5 AND WENT AROUND AFTER QUESTIONING CTLR WHO HAD JUST RELIEVED PREVIOUS CTLR WHO HAD CLRED A CL65 INTO POS AND NOT INFORMED RELIEVING CTLR.

Narrative: CTLR JUST ASSUMED LOCAL CTL POS. DID NOT KNOW THAT CARJ WAS IN POS AND HOLD ON RWY 05. DC9 ON SHORT FINAL NOTICED ACFT'S LIGHTS ON RWY AND QUESTIONED CTLR. DC9 WENT AROUND. THIS IS AT LEAST THE SECOND INSTANCE WHERE ACFT HAS GONE AROUND WITH ANOTHER ACFT IN POS ON RWY 05. PROB, IN SEPTEMBER TERMINAL EXPANSION WAS OPENED, IT HAS NEW RAMP LIGHTS WITH RED OBSTRUCTION LIGHTS. FROM THE TWR THESE LIGHTS BLEND IN WITH RWY LIGHTS AT THE APCH END OF RWY 05. ACFT ARE NOT VISIBLE ON TXWY 'A,' RUN-UP AREA, OR HOLDING SHORT. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE ACFT IN POS AND HOLD. NATCA HAS REQUESTED ARPT TO LOWER AND SHIELD RAMP LIGHTS. NO ACTION. NATCA REQUESTED APCH END RWY 5 BE DESIGNATED NOT VISIBLE FROM TWR AT NIGHT, SO TAXI INTO POS AND HOLD NOT BE USED, NO ACTION. FAA SAYS ACFT ARE VISIBLE. USING BINOCULARS. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATED THAT THE LIGHTING INTERFERENCE IN IDENTIFYING ACFT IN POS ON RWY 5 IS WORSE SINCE THE NEW TERMINAL EXTENSION HAS HIGHER RED OBSTRUCTION LIGHTS. HOWEVER, THE RWY APCH AREA CAN BE SEEN WITH THE USE OF BINOCULARS. ALSO CAN BE SEEN DURING DAY LIGHT HRS WITHOUT BINOCULARS. THE RPTR FURTHER STATED THAT HE WAS NOT THE TWR CTLR INVOLVED IN THIS INCIDENT, BUT HAD OVER HEARD OTHER CTLRS RELATING THIS INCIDENT, AND DECIDED TO RPT IT.

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.