Skywest close call in ABQ
 

Saw a runway incursion first hand today... it makes your heart skip a beat; and I was on the ground in a truck.

A SKW CR7 was on final for 21 and a Twin Otter was holding at an intersecting taxiway (Golf I believe) its probably at the 1000 foot markers or so. I heard something on the the radio about the Otter and i thought i heard them say to continue holding short... but he didnt. The CRJ was just about to cross the threshold when the Otter taxied out and applied t/o power. By this time the CRJ realized what was going on and executed a go around. It was damn close... probably within a 1000 feet. Tower went nuts... I wonder what will happen to the Otter pilot? I know the guy and I couldnt bring myself to ask him when he got back. How could you not even look down final?? Coulda been a real bad day today.

He probably got the phone number.

In my ATC career, I never realized how deadly and scary this business could be until I worked in a tower (after 14 years of radar). I can't even count all the close calls I've seen. Of course, some did end it fatalities / totaled airplanes.

My very first trip at SkyWest was SBA-SLC-ABQ, runway 3 visual approach. Congrats to the crew for making this a non-event.

Im surprised...no media coverage.

Yeah.. not sure how they would find out though.

Airline Pilot Central Forums :D

Haha, but I thought this was just an anonymous place to vent my frustrations to my "peers?!" :p

The crew reacted perfectly and averted disaster so there was no story about "incompetent regional pilots" that the media could take advantage of. :)

I'm sure the FAA office in SLC will investigate and find fault with the SkyWest crew and offer them a 60 day suspension. "You should've anticipated that the Otter was going to cross onto the runway" Job well done to the crew.