 |
37000 Feet | Browse and search NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System |
|
Air carrier flight crew described two separate events when ATC permitted helicopters to cross over the landing runway when the reporter's aircraft was on short final; the reporter claiming any go arounds would create a significant safety problem.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 850294 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200908 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201-1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | SNA.Airport |
| State Reference | CA |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Night |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | B737-800 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | Final Approach |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Aircraft 2 | |
| Make Model Name | Helicopter |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | Cruise |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Captain Pilot Flying |
| Person 2 | |
| Function | Pilot Not Flying First Officer |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | ATC Issue All Types Conflict Airborne Conflict |
Narrative:
When arriving in sna at night on final approach; around 1;500 ft to 2;000 ft; tower advised us of helicopter traffic that would be crossing the runway mid-field and that we were cleared to land. If the controller mentioned an altitude for the helicopter; I did not hear it. We acknowledge the clearance to land; but did not confirm the traffic in sight. Upon landing; first officer advised me that he saw it and had the need arisen to have to go around it would have been a near mid-air. The very next night in cyul; the same exact thing happened except this time I saw the helicopter. Although we did not advise tower we saw it. Whether we saw it or not; or tower tells us or not; is a bad situation. We advised ground both times that it would have been a direct conflict should we have to go around. Is this something new or are tower controllers assuming we always see the traffic and can maneuver around it; even at night? Dangerous dangerous.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: Air carrier flight crew described two separate events when ATC permitted helicopters to cross over the landing runway when the reporter's aircraft was on short final; the reporter claiming any go arounds would create a significant safety problem.
Narrative: When arriving in SNA at night on final approach; around 1;500 FT to 2;000 FT; Tower advised us of helicopter traffic that would be crossing the runway mid-field and that we were cleared to land. If the Controller mentioned an altitude for the helicopter; I did not hear it. We acknowledge the clearance to land; but did not confirm the traffic in sight. Upon landing; First Officer advised me that he saw it and had the need arisen to have to go around it would have been a near mid-air. The very next night in CYUL; the same exact thing happened except this time I saw the helicopter. Although we did not advise Tower we saw it. Whether we saw it or not; or Tower tells us or not; is a bad situation. We advised ground both times that it would have been a direct conflict should we have to go around. Is this something new or are Tower Controllers assuming we always see the traffic and can maneuver around it; even at night? DANGEROUS DANGEROUS.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.