Haneda air traffic control missed warning alert in JAL collision
Air traffic controllers at Tokyo's Haneda Airport did not notice the Japan Coast Guard aircraft entering the runway before Tuesday's deadly plane collision even though a warning system was in working order, Nikkei has learned. Haneda's air traffic controllers have acknowledged that the coast guard cargo plane's entry into the runway escaped their notice, a source close to the investigation said. It is believed the aircraft idled on the runway for approximately 40 seconds before the crash with a Japan Airlines passenger plane, which was landing. Air traffic control had instructed the coast guard plane to taxi to a holding point short of the runway, communication records released by the government Wednesday show. The coast guard aircraft acknowledged and confirmed the instruction by reciting back the directive. There was no communication between the air traffic control and the coast guard craft after the confirmation. Air traffic controllers are not required to visually confirm the movements of an aircraft after giving instructions, according to Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. Each runway and taxiway has one air traffic controller assigned to it, with another controller overseeing the situation. The team also has a monitoring system that warns if a plane has entered a runway at the same time another aircraft is preparing to land. The visual support system flags the risk by blinking an indicator on the monitor screen, but the equipment does not provide an audible alert. The runway monitoring system was working properly at the time of the accident, but the air traffic controllers apparently failed to notice the blinking indicator, according to a source close to the transport ministry. Japan plans to adopt a response as soon as Tuesday after the three-day weekend, Transport Minister Tetsuo Saito said Friday. As a first step, extra staff will be assigned to air traffic control teams starting Saturday to keep constant watch on the runway monitoring system.<br/>
https://portal.staralliance.com/cms/news/hot-topics/2024-01-08/oneworld/haneda-air-traffic-control-missed-warning-alert-in-jal-collision
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Haneda air traffic control missed warning alert in JAL collision
Air traffic controllers at Tokyo's Haneda Airport did not notice the Japan Coast Guard aircraft entering the runway before Tuesday's deadly plane collision even though a warning system was in working order, Nikkei has learned. Haneda's air traffic controllers have acknowledged that the coast guard cargo plane's entry into the runway escaped their notice, a source close to the investigation said. It is believed the aircraft idled on the runway for approximately 40 seconds before the crash with a Japan Airlines passenger plane, which was landing. Air traffic control had instructed the coast guard plane to taxi to a holding point short of the runway, communication records released by the government Wednesday show. The coast guard aircraft acknowledged and confirmed the instruction by reciting back the directive. There was no communication between the air traffic control and the coast guard craft after the confirmation. Air traffic controllers are not required to visually confirm the movements of an aircraft after giving instructions, according to Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. Each runway and taxiway has one air traffic controller assigned to it, with another controller overseeing the situation. The team also has a monitoring system that warns if a plane has entered a runway at the same time another aircraft is preparing to land. The visual support system flags the risk by blinking an indicator on the monitor screen, but the equipment does not provide an audible alert. The runway monitoring system was working properly at the time of the accident, but the air traffic controllers apparently failed to notice the blinking indicator, according to a source close to the transport ministry. Japan plans to adopt a response as soon as Tuesday after the three-day weekend, Transport Minister Tetsuo Saito said Friday. As a first step, extra staff will be assigned to air traffic control teams starting Saturday to keep constant watch on the runway monitoring system.<br/>
