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AS32 / B734, Aberdeen UK, 2000 (AGC RI HF)
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| Summary | |
| A British Airways Boeing 737-400 departing from Aberdeen was obliged to make a high speed rejected tale off to avoid a possible collision with an AS332 helicopter on an air test detail which had hover-taxied contrary to its clearance from the cleared holding point into a position above the upwind end of the departure runway. It was found that the GND controller had issued a departure clearance to the helicopter and transferred it to TWR without the required reiteration of the still-valid ‘hold position’ instruction and that this had been interpreted by the helicopter crew as cancelling that instruction. | |
 | |
| Event Details | |
|---|---|
| When | July 2000 |
| Event Type | AGC, HF, RI |
| Day/Night | Day |
| Flight Conditions | On Ground - Normal Visibility |
| Flight Details | |
|---|---|
| Aircraft | AEROSPATIALE AS-332 Super Puma |
| Operator | Not Recorded |
| Type of Flight | Public Transport (Non Revenue) |
| Origin | Aberdeen Dyce |
| Intended Destination | Aberdeen Dyce |
| Flight Phase | Taxi |
| TXI | |
| Flight Details | |
|---|---|
| Aircraft | BOEING 737-400 |
| Operator | British Airways |
| Domicile | United Kingdom |
| Type of Flight | Public Transport (Passenger) |
| Origin | Aberdeen Dyce |
| Intended Destination | London Gatwick |
| Flight Phase | Take Off |
| TOF | |
| Location - Airport | |
|---|---|
| Airport | Aberdeen Dyce |
| General | |
|---|---|
| Tag(s) | Aircraft-aircraft near miss Inadequate Aircraft Operator Procedures |
| AGC | |
|---|---|
| Tag(s) | Phraseology Take off without clearance |
| HF | |
|---|---|
| Tag(s) | Distraction Fatigue Inappropriate ATC Communication Ineffective Monitoring Plan Continuation Bias Violation |
| RI | |
|---|---|
| Tag(s) | Accepted ATC Clearance not followed Incursion pre Take off Near Miss |
| Outcome | |
|---|---|
| Damage or injury | No |
| Causal Factor Group(s) | |
|---|---|
| Group(s) | Aircraft Operation Air Traffic Management |
| Safety Recommendation(s) | |
|---|---|
| Group(s) | None Made |
| Investigation Type | |
|---|---|
| Type | Independent |
Contents |
Description
On 27 July 2000, a Boeing 737-400 being operated by British Airways on a scheduled passenger flight from Aberdeen to London Gatwick made a high speed rejected takeoff in normal daylight ground visibility upon sighting an AS332 being operated by CHC Scotia on an Air Test hovering over the upwind end of the runway. The 737 came to a stop approximately 100 metres before reaching the helicopter's position.
Synopsis
The following is taken from the official AAIB report:
"This serious incident occurred when a Boeing 737 (B737), operating a scheduled service from Aberdeen to London Gatwick, at a speed of 100 kt185.2 km/h
51.4 m/s was obliged to abort its take off run to avoid a possible collision with a Super Puma (AS332L) helicopter. The helicopter had been hovering at a holding point close to the upwind end of the runway when, because of the crew's misinterpretation of their clearance, it manoeuvred to hover above the runway into the path of the departing B737."
Following the incident, the airport ATC manager issued a safety notice stating that:
"…whenever there is any possibility that a clearance message might be misinterpreted as permission to take off, the instruction to hold should be repeated as part of the message."
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Further Reading
- For further information, see the full AAIB report