Another "near miss" at AUS
 

I wouldn't really call this a near miss. FedEx was cleared to land while a few miles away. SWA was cleared to takeoff causing FedEx to go around:

https://www.npr.org/2023/02/04/11545...west-plane-faa

Near Miss in AUS
 

A FedEx 767 came within ~30' of spreading LUV in AUS. Seems like bad WX and some poor SA from several folks almost resulted in a really bad day. Tower reported RVR of 1200/600/1600
https://iili.io/H1Ldzlt.jpg

Track from Flight Radar
https://twitter.com/rawsalerts/statu...60444985720835

Audio
https://t.co/jnKKbvOBb0

This now passes aviation news? That happened to me, just before I retired, I missed the news of imminent demise, I guess.

I dunno. I’d say 25’ counts as “pretty close”.

Somebody over at A.net (yes, I know) posted a video overlaying the two Flight Aware tracks. Yes, very scary actually.

Kudos to the FedEx crew. In AUS I’ve continued and landed when everyone was too close possibly reinforcing this bad behavior. If I had gone around we would only have been separated vertically. There must be more to this than a go-around.

ATC Audio:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=de...zZsXPDyj72s1Gg

1000 rvr, asking for and granting a takeoff clearance with an aircraft 3 miles out is (fill in the blank).

Why would a controller clear an aircraft for takeoff during CATIII operations (600 RVR lowest reported) when an arriving aircraft is at 3 miles? The approach fix is at 3.2 miles.

Second, why would the Southwest jet accept a takeoff clearance this close during these conditions? Isn't the ILS Critical Area supposed to be sterile for arriving aircraft approach fix to landing?

FedEx called the SWA abort. Awesome SA from
FedEx. If SWA had taken off the FedEx go around would have been interesting. FedEx saved this all the way.

FDX presumably shooting a CATIII coupled in that weather (don’t know for sure if that’s the case). When does AUS twr take responsibility for protecting the ILS signal? If FDX is at three miles on a coupled approach (less than 1000’ AGL), seems a little aggressive to clear another for takeoff. I don’t even think AUS tower has the runway in sight during that vis.

FedEx is the hero here. Both calling the SWA abort and going around. Great situational awareness understanding if SWA took off during their go around it could be bad.

Southwest did takeoff. They did not abort. According to some online who have analyzed ADS-B data (understanding that the data can be erroneous or misleading), they were within 75' vertically of each other.

SWA did take off…

Southwest DID takeoff Hero!

It takes SWA a full min to start rolling after getting TO Clearence? Knowing they had a heavy short final. If they would of taken off at a reasonable time after getting the Clearence then shouldn't of been an issue.

But obviously we all can sit here and play backseat pilot.

Better question……why did the SWA crew dick around so long after getting cleared to roll? They’re the ones who screwed up.

Seems like more of a controller issue.

He didn’t tell FedEx “traffic will depart prior to your arrival”, FedEx had to tactfully prompt him for it when they heard the SWA TO clearance.

He might have missed some minimum separation standards when SWA took longer to TO than he expected. Good job on the FedEx GA decision.

NTSB will figure it out.

especially in low RVR conditions after de-icing, it’s totally reasonable for 60s to elapse before rolling.

I wonder if SWA was in a hurry to meet a holdover time? Weather was FZFG at the time.

What was the temperature at the time? Could they have been doing an engine runup?

Whilst on a runway, after being cleared for takeoff, being advised there's another aircraft on a 3 mile final? Sure.

"AUS tower let me know when you're ready, stby for possible controller deviation, I have a number for you."

“And give me the address of where I can FedEx my poop soiled drawers”

I've done plenty of engine runups while on a runway after being cleared for takeoff, but obviously the 30 seconds was always coordinated with Tower first. Just trying to figure why SWA took so long to get rolling.

Well, good for you.

Glad it’s always worked out, FOR YOU.

Nobody should have been cleared into the critical area.

I was originally confused by the attitude of this reply, but then realized who was posting. Go back to bed, gramps!

Full thrust standing takeoff. Takes a min.

But if you're going to do a run-up you're supposed to tell tower too.

If your'e doing a 30 second pre-takeoff run for nacelle thermal anti-ice, where else do you do that run? That thirty second run to warm the nacelles is best done just prior to brake release, and should be coordinated with the tower. There is no indication of a run-up requested or done here, however.

No such request was heard on the audio, and a crew would not/should not do a run on the runway without clearing that with the tower, first.

It's clear that the southwest flight shouldn't have been released with the FedEx flight on a Cat III. It sounds, from the audio, like ATC was pushing runway utilization as tight as they could, which is setting up for something like this to occur.

A call from an airplane going around should not be to the aircraft taking off to abort (reject: it's a Boeing). That's not a call to be made by the aircraft initiating a missed approach, and certainly not a call I'm aware of any training department or organization using as a standard. The only person who should have called to reject the takeoff with Southwest is one of two in the cockpit; otherwise the tower controller might have cancelled clearance, but certainly should not call for an "abort." The pilot of the FedEx airplane shouldn't be calling "abort," either. Fly the airplane you're in, not the other guy's aircraft.

Better to go missed earlier than later, in this case, and they did.

Poor SA and ADM by the WN crew. They requested — and then accepted!!!— the takeoff clearance. Glad I’m not that CA. He/She will be in some VERY hot water for this.

You obviously haven’t RTFT…..

​​​​​……..no reason to quote me in one of your typical all knowing/omniscient diatribes…..

Also, good job on being Judgy McJudgerstein on the FedEx crews actions, well done sir!!!!!

I don't know what "RTFT" is, as I don't speak rubber-bone teenager, but I quoted you because you said something stupid, which merited comment. If you don't wish to be quoted speaking stupidity, then grow a brain or remain silent.

Actually, the poster making the comment asking if they were doing an engine run seemed like he said “something stupid”, but, whatever….

And maybe take some of your own advice?

Tell you one thing. Push them up together when the pavement’s not dry.

Or you could say "mark tape"

There was one trigger for them. I’ve refused a takeoff clearance when it’s ifr and someone is on the approach. They were told about the heavy. I do not think they delayed on the runway. Takeoff if those conditions can take a minute.

I agree. The hold short line is a quite a ways back from the actual runway.

Sounds like a couple of people asleep at the wheel, FedEx not being one of them.
SouthWest should have never been given a clearance and they should have not accepted one either.
As far as the ‘abort’ call, what’s next? Blaming FedEx for not initiating a go-around earlier?
I find it somewhat curious how laid back the TWR controller sounds through all of this.