Near collision at KATL...

[mastermags]

Yeah, it's a political thing. They have to have a certain number of departures a month off 28 to "justify its existance" so they send them down there sometimes. I remember one night they were sending all of the south departures down to 28. We asked the controller about it and he said he didn't understand why he was doing it either

[Doug Taylor]

Originally Posted by Cptnchia

Doug,
What time are you leaving tonight? I'm in SDQ getting ready to fly back to JFK this afternoon, flight 208 I think. Unfortunately we're departing EWR tommorow so have to do the "Golden Touch Death March" to NJ. If we have time, I'll stop by the lounge.

I check in at 1800!

[cime_sp]

Originally Posted by Doug Taylor

Situational awareness.Plus, don't ever presume the guy with the tiller is going to stop when he should.

Very true!!! Complacency is a bitch. I just looked up who it was and while I'm not going to post any sort of names or anything, this was not an inexperienced crew. The captain has been here since Sep '99 and the FO was originally hired in 95 and rehired in '06.

Experience does NOT exempt you from mistakes!!!!!

[FlySooner9]

i may just be an ignorant pilot still working his way through ratings and has zero experience at an airline, but my goodness wouldn't you see a 757 coming down the runway even if you glance? How could both pilots miss that? let alone the fact of not holding short in the first place?

[mastermags]

Originally Posted by Craig_Davidson

i may just be an ignorant pilot still working his way through ratings and has zero experience at an airline, but my goodness wouldn't you see a 757 coming down the runway even if you glance? How could both pilots miss that? let alone the fact of not holding short in the first place?

Be careful what you say... wait till you start instructing, it can get busy.

[cime_sp]

Originally Posted by Craig_Davidson

i may just be an ignorant pilot still working his way through ratings and has zero experience at an airline, but my goodness wouldn't you see a 757 coming down the runway even if you glance? How could both pilots miss that? let alone the fact of not holding short in the first place?

Not really. First off, there are airplanes everywhere and it is very common to have airplanes in position and hold while you are crossing. You may be 5,000 -8,000feet down the runway.....Is that airplane moving or is he holding??? It's about impossible to tell head on from a mile away or further. Also, runways are not flat. They roll with the terrain, especially on ones that are 11,000 feet long. Your visibility of the entire runway can be cut off by a "hill" or dip in the runway. Add in the heat coming off the pavement or from jetblast which will blurr visibilty....and you can see how it becomes difficult

[mastermags]

Originally Posted by cime_sp

Not really. First off, there are airplanes everywhere and it is very common to have airplanes in position and hold while you are crossing. You may be 5,000 -8,000feet down the runway.....Is that airplane moving or is he holding??? It's about impossible to tell head on from a mile away or further. Also, runways are not flat. They roll with the terrain, especially on ones that are 11,000 feet long. Your visibility of the entire runway can be cut off by a "hill" or dip in the runway. Add in the heat coming off the pavement or from jetblast which will blurr visibilty....and you can see how it becomes difficult

And if the FO has his head down for a brief (which he shouldn't during a runway crossing), or is more likely looking out the right side of the aircraft, only one person is checking the left side.