Tower Closed/CTAF Ops, FOD check
03-04-2024, 07:04 PM
#112
Line Holder
Joined APC: Feb 2021
Posts: 57
I'm surprised how mixed these responses are. A runway condition check after dark/before sunrise is completely reasonable, especially at rural, low-traffic airports known for wildlife. Most of the time, an Ops or ARFF vehicle will be up on freq and roaming around anyway, so it's no trouble for them to accommodate. I used to do this at State College, PA for those 5am pre-dawn departures. Even if there weren't ground vehicles willing, I would still back-taxi at least to from the rotation point for the peace of mind. Plenty of busy, towered airports do frequent runway inspections in way more favorable conditions, so it's really not an unreasonable practice.
03-04-2024, 08:01 PM
#113
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2009
Position: Capt
Posts: 2,023
Originally Posted by fadecfault
I'm surprised how mixed these responses are. A runway condition check after dark/before sunrise is completely reasonable, especially at rural, low-traffic airports known for wildlife. Most of the time, an Ops or ARFF vehicle will be up on freq and roaming around anyway, so it's no trouble for them to accommodate. I used to do this at State College, PA for those 5am pre-dawn departures. Even if there weren't ground vehicles willing, I would still back-taxi at least to from the rotation point for the peace of mind. Plenty of busy, towered airports do frequent runway inspections in way more favorable conditions, so it's really not an unreasonable practice.
birds at 100 feet at 6 am on Sundays?
03-04-2024, 10:16 PM
#114
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2022
Posts: 110
Originally Posted by fadecfault
Most of the time, an Ops or ARFF vehicle will be up on freq and roaming around anyway, so it's no trouble for them to accommodate.
Also, the frequency of inspections has nothing to do with towered vs. non-towered.
03-06-2024, 09:39 AM
#116
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2016
Position: Looking left
Posts: 3,251
Originally Posted by boog123
30 years of 121 flying, never heard or even thought of doing this. Why not go the extra mile and study the migratory patterns of the local
birds at 100 feet at 6 am on Sundays?
birds at 100 feet at 6 am on Sundays?
http://usahas.com
03-06-2024, 09:41 AM
#117
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2016
Position: Looking left
Posts: 3,251
Originally Posted by cornbeef007
There is a provision that allows the captain to determine contamination level in certain cases. How could he/she do that if it’s dark? Prohibiting back taxi would stop the operation unnecessarily.
What about the Caribbean runways that require back taxi. The plane be stranded until the tower opens. Thats why Delta doesn’t prohibit it.
What do we do when taxiway access to the runway is closed. Do we cancel the flight because we would need to do a back taxi.
A back taxi is an industry standard procedure. Not buzzing the runway to scare off animals.
What about the Caribbean runways that require back taxi. The plane be stranded until the tower opens. Thats why Delta doesn’t prohibit it.
What do we do when taxiway access to the runway is closed. Do we cancel the flight because we would need to do a back taxi.
A back taxi is an industry standard procedure. Not buzzing the runway to scare off animals.
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