chopper crossing active runway

Carawaystick

The other night I saw a SAR helicopter crossing Runway 28 at Dublin, from south of the M50 to the apron direction.
There were several planes on approach to the runway.

It's hard to gauge the height of the helicopter, it was maybe 2 times the height of the top of the terminal buildings.

I presume atc give clearance if the approach plane is far enough away to keep horizontal seperation or there's some rule when to allow this crossing to happen?

sparrowcar

Carawaystick wrote: »

The other night I saw a SAR helicopter crossing Runway 28 at Dublin, from south of the M50 to the apron direction.
There were several planes on approach to the runway.

It's hard to gauge the height of the helicopter, it was maybe 2 times the height of the top of the terminal buildings.

I presume atc give clearance if the approach plane is far enough away to keep horizontal seperation or there's some rule when to allow this crossing to happen?

Completely normal regular occurrence. ATC clearance given and away they go.

Gaoth Laidir

One summer evening a few years back I was flying around the Garristown area of the zone and informed ATC I was ready to head back to Weston. The controller kindly offered my the option of flying the approach to R16 and overflying the runway and head out over Ballymun and on to Weston that way. Of course I jumped at the chance and flew over the runway at 200 ft and the controller informed Ryanair and Aer Linguses to ignore my alert on their TCAS! Cool. I've never done it since but fair play to the controller!

jimbis

I was out at the runway one day and noticed the SAR helicopter lifting off just as a Ryanair was on approach. Thought it was a bit strange but it just hovered there untill the Ryanair passed then zipped across the runway and off towards Dublin infront of the next approaching aircraft (plenty of separation).
It's all time critical for them I suppose.

It was something different to see from the usual ryanairs and shamrocks.

de biz

There have been close calls with helis transitting the field.
Were it not for the exceptional skill of the Lear's Captain avoidance actions....

SYNOPSIS
An airmiss occurred at Dublin Airport when a helicopter crossed the active runway in front of an aircraft that was taking off. On becoming airborne the Pilot of the Learjet aircraft was forced to take immediate evasive action to avoid a collision. There was little vertical or horizontal separation between the two aircraft at the time of the occurrence. There was no damage to either aircraft.
The Pilot of the helicopter had been given a conditional clearance to cross the runway after the Learjet had taken off. He crossed instead ahead of it and did not see the small Learjet, whose colour was dark grey, until the airmiss. ATC procedures at EIDW have since been changed with conditional clearances to cross active runways no longer being issued to helicopters.

Occurence Date:
Monday, 17 December, 2007


Report Date:
Wednesday, 4 February, 2009

http://www.aaiu.ie/node/251

smurfjed

Is it any different to an aircraft taxiing across the runway?

martinsvi

Gaoth Laidir wrote: »

One summer evening a few years back I was flying around the Garristown area of the zone and informed ATC I was ready to head back to Weston. The controller kindly offered my the option of flying the approach to R16 and overflying the runway and head out over Ballymun and on to Weston that way. Of course I jumped at the chance and flew over the runway at 200 ft and the controller informed Ryanair and Aer Linguses to ignore my alert on their TCAS! Cool. I've never done it since but fair play to the controller!

sounds a bit risky, what if one of them had to initiate a go-around for whatever reason? What were you flying?

Gaoth Laidir

martinsvi wrote: »

sounds a bit risky, what if one of them had to initiate a go-around for whatever reason? What were you flying?

I was in a Robin 2160. My original filed route back to Weston was via Dunshaughlin but it was the controller who suggested the R16 route. I remember there was a Ryanair that called in on an 8-mile final for 28 when the controller when I was nearly at 16. The controller cleared him for the approach and mentioned about me and what I was doing. I was well clear of 28 by the time the Ryanair was on short finals.

I must see if I can dig out the ATC archive.

martinsvi

ah that makes sense then.. as long as you were not put behind his tail, SEPs and Jets don't mix

Gaoth Laidir

martinsvi wrote: »

ah that makes sense then.. as long as you were not put behind his tail, SEPs and Jets don't mix

Oh God no!!

Aerohead

That was Rescue 118 came in from Sligo with a critical patient ,they requested priority landing due to the patients condition.