Dual Mistakes Bring Jets As Close As 50 Feet

In the eighth reported runway incursion at Los Angeles International Airport this year, two jets came within at least 200 feet and possibly as close as 50 feet of each other Thursday.

In what has been termed a near-miss, a WestJet Boeing 737 that had just arrived on the north field of the airport was taxiing to its gate when it began to cross an active departure runway, and nearly collided with a Northwest Airbus A320 on its takeoff roll, according to the Los Angeles Times.

The 737 came less than 200 feet -- and possibly as little as 50 feet -- from the A320, which is believed to have been traveling about 150 mph. There were no reported injuries.

The reason for the runway incursion appears to have been "a double mistake," according to FAA spokesman Ian Gregor, who said the 737 pilot had switched frequencies from the tower to ground control, prior to receiving the air controller's final instructions.

The ground controller then cleared the jet without checking with air control. Gregor said the air controller typically guides a pilot from five to seven miles out until an aircraft touches down, then advises the pilot where to go before switching to ground control.

LAX has a "traditionally high level of runway incursions" said Gregor.

And how. This latest incident marks number eight for 2007 -- matching the total for 2006. There were two in June alone, as ANN reported.

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa ordered a report that was completed recently that warned of "the likelihood of a catastrophic aircraft collision" if nothing was changed on the north side of the airfield.

But proposed improvements to the north side -- near Terminals 1, 2 and 3, where about one in four incursions occur -- aren't happening because politicians and community activists have locked horns on noise and pollution issues.

The $330-million construction project currently underway, that should be completed in about a year,  on the south side should help. The southernmost runway is to be moved 55 feet farther south and a center taxiway will be added.

FMI: www.lawa.org/lax, www.faa.gov