Flight Safety Is Becoming A Concern

[2012Bearcat]

Southwest flight nearly misses collision at Chicago Midway International

A Southwest Airlines flight was forced to perform a go-around maneuver at Chicago Midway International Airport when a private jet crossed its path on the runway Tuesday morning.

www.foxnews.com

Several air crashes recently along with several close calls. Something tells me this problem is not going to be a quick fix. Down almost 4000 Air Traffic Controllers nationwide and it's not like people can be trained quickly to make up the number. My sister in law was in a group of ATC that came into replace all of those fired by Reagan. Most of that group has retired or is close to it, maybe they should call some of that group back until they can get the numbers up. I know my sister in law would tell them to go to hell but I'm sure many wouldn't.

 

[trapped_in_tx]

Southwest flight nearly misses collision at Chicago Midway International

A Southwest Airlines flight was forced to perform a go-around maneuver at Chicago Midway International Airport when a private jet crossed its path on the runway Tuesday morning.

www.foxnews.com

Several air crashes recently along with several close calls. Something tells me this problem is not going to be a quick fix. Down almost 4000 Air Traffic Controllers nationwide and it's not like people can be trained quickly to make up the number. My sister in law was in a group of ATC that came into replace all of those fired by Reagan. Most of that group has retired or is close to it, maybe they should call some of that group back until they can get the numbers up. I know my sister in law would tell them to go to hell but I'm sure many wouldn't.

I agree there is an ATC staffing problem, but the near miss at Midway was 100% pilot error by the jet which incurred the runway.

I don’t have a link but the ground control audio was very clear that the small jet pilot was not clear on the instructions he received

 

[purkey]

you should never cross a runway, especially at chicago, without at least thinking, "am I clear to cross?" and then, "are you sure"? assume nothing.

 

[2012Bearcat]

I agree there is an ATC staffing problem, but the near miss at Midway was 100% pilot error by the jet which incurred the runway.

I don’t have a link but the ground control audio was very clear that the small jet pilot was not clear on the instructions he received

I haven't heard the audio but isn't it the job of the ATC to insure pilots are clear on their instructions and follow them?

 

[trapped_in_tx]

I haven't heard the audio but isn't it the job of the ATC to insure pilots are clear on their instructions and follow them?

You need to listen to the audio. You will see that ground control thought they acknowledged the instruction correctly after confusion, then the jet kept taxiing towards the active runway. Ground control called out again right before the incursion and the SWA flight announced their abort and go-around immediately after. The small jet didn’t respond until they had crossed the runway.

The small jet pilot either had a very limited understanding of the airfield or was otherwise confused.

 

[trapped_in_tx]