ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, November 23, 1996 TAG: 9611250160
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-3 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: WASHINGTONI
The Federal Aviation Administration is sending letters to some 800,000 pilots reminding them of the need to broadcast every maneuver at airports that don't have a control tower.
The move follows an accident at such an airport in Quincy, Ill., Tuesday in which two planes collided at a runway intersection killing 14 people.
The cause of the disaster remains unresolved, but investigators have said the pilots were broadcasting their positions before the accident.
Nonetheless, a United Express flight, with 12 people aboard, collided with a private plane carrying two people. The United Express was landing and the private plane crossed the runway, according to investigators.
The FAA said it will send a reminder of safe procedures to all 800,000 licensed pilots ``emphasizing the importance of broadcasting every maneuver and every movement on the airport surface.''
``This system allows all pilots preparing to land or take off to be aware of aircraft near the airport,'' said Acting FAA Administrator Linda Hall Daschle.
In addition the agency said its flight standards division, which holds seminars around the country, will emphasize safe practices at airports without control towers.
And it said a poster on safe operations will be sent to some 5,000 airport operators by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association and the Air Safety Foundation. The two will also prepare a new booklet on non-tower airport operations, the FAA said.
FAA guidelines say pilots at airports without control towers should repeatedly broadcast their positions as they approach the airport, prepare to take off or taxi down the runway. The broadcasts go out over an open channel that all planes near uncontrolled airports monitor.
Pilots listening to radio transmissions said the planes were following standard procedure by broadcasting their positions. The private plane reported it was holding position on the runway but never announced when it was beginning its takeoff.
- Associated Press
LENGTH: Short : 47 lines KEYWORDS: 2DAby CNB