This week an Air Canada flight from Toronto to San Francisco lined up with a taxiway at night and was very close to landing on that taxiway. The problem is that there were four other aircraft on the taxiway waiting to depart. The runway was 28R and the taxiway (Charlie) was on the outside of the runway, not between 28R and 28L. The communication with the aircraft seems to allude that the aircraft on the taxiway was the first to alert the tower and the Air Canada flight they were lined up with the taxiway. Air Canada had received a “cleared to land.”
So what is going to happen to the Air Canada crew? As far as the FAA is concerned nothing is going to happen. In regard to the Canadian authorities, all that is going to happen is retraining. This is my speculation based on the level of the flight that being a very large air carrier. I have seen the legal procedures initiated against air carriers compared to the average general aviation pilot. The later always pays the price.
We ran this particular situation in the sim putting in the weather and time of the approach. The lead in and runway lights at SFO are so strong, it is hard to realize this happening. One of the things that we feel happened is what we call “flight over” attitude. This happens after a long flight, usually from day to night, in clear weather. The pilots have had a fairly smooth flight and in the end they let their guard down. They begin to prepare for the landing and in their minds it is an easy approach and their minds begin to relax and are not at the high standard of say an instrument approach. Usually the conversation changes from aircraft procedure to “well what are you going to do at the hotel?”
All air carriers are required to maintain the instrument approach until they are able to clearly make a VFR approach. At some point in time they disengaged the autopilot and began to hand fly the approach. This is where the problem occurred. Someone lined up on the taxiway and the other pilot, being distracted, did not pick up on the problem.
To belittle this situation as an “almost” problem is serious. As stated in many news reports they were very close to one of the most serious aviation disasters that has ever happened.
One other point. When I train future pilots or review current pilots on where to stop an aircraft on a taxiway of an active runway, I always tell them they need to be looking directly at the approach corridor if possible. At least have the plane positioned so that you can look out a side window at the approach corridor.
Now back to what is going to happen to the pilots. Nothing. They will not be pulled from the line. There will be no reprimand. They will be some type of “retraining.” What would have happened if it had been a private pilot or commercial pilot in the United States? They would be in front of the FAA trying to keep their ticket. The bottom line is that the “big boys” are always protected while the little guy is dragged through the mud.