The amount of headstart would be another factor to consider in accepting a visual clearance. The original post stated, "rolls an MD11 or DC10 right behind the B727 doing the same thing." I've witnessed the clearance being given with what appears to me to be much less than 2 miles headstart, and the assumption here is, initially anyway, and certainly until achieving radar contact, the same heading. With the MD-11 using NADP2 (accelerating and cleaning up at 1,000' AGL), the closure is nothing to scoff at.

I don't like sitting in line any more than the next guy, but I really hate the paperwork involved with reporting a TA. A few seconds is a tiny sacrifice for safety.







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