{"id":24451,"date":"2024-01-29T08:45:09","date_gmt":"2024-01-29T13:45:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/?p=24451"},"modified":"2024-01-30T17:57:45","modified_gmt":"2024-01-30T22:57:45","slug":"japan-boosts-atc-procedures-and-lessons-from-haneda","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/japan-boosts-atc-procedures-and-lessons-from-haneda\/","title":{"rendered":"Japan Boosts ATC Procedures and Lessons from Haneda"},"content":{"rendered":"

Japan has announced changes<\/a> (in Japanese) to ATC protocols<\/strong> at airports throughout the country. This follows the tragic collision<\/a> of an Airbus A350 and Dash 8 on an active runway at RJTT\/Haneda<\/strong> on Jan 2.<\/p>\n

While we wait for more answers, authorities have been quick to implement new procedures. Here\u2019s what you need to know (translated), if you\u2019re headed to Japan tomorrow.<\/p>\n

Visually Clear<\/h4>\n

Authorities are urging operators to mandate a check by aircrew that the runway is visually clear<\/strong> before landing or entering. In other words \u2013 don\u2019t rely on a clearance alone.<\/p>\n

You may need to take this one with a grain of salt. For a myriad of reasons, it may not be practical or possible for pilots to make an accurate assessment that a runway is vacant. Take the example below – how would you fare?<\/p>\n

\"\"

Cleared for immediate take-off, with one landing behind. Is the runway clear, or is that a vehicle ahead?<\/p><\/div>\n

But from an airmanship perspective, the intention is that our eyeballs may become the last line of defense.<\/p>\n

Forget your place in the queue<\/h4>\n

Early indications from the accident transcript indicate that the crew of the Dash 8 may have misinterpreted the use of the phrase \u2018number 1\u2019<\/strong> when cleared to the runway\u2019s holding point.<\/p>\n

To a fluent English speaker<\/strong>, the implication may appear quite simple \u2013 you are number one in the queue to depart.<\/p>\n

But to the crew of the Dash, it may have meant you are number one for the runway<\/em>.<\/p>\n

So, from now on ATC will no longer advise aircraft of their place in the sequence for departure.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Their official note says there are now only four phrases that will be used to imply an aircraft can enter a runway. These are:<\/p>\n