NTSB · Safety Recommendation
Safety Recommendation A-73-021
Recommendation
STANDARDIZE CONFIGURATIONS, ALIGNMENT TECHNIQUES, AND EQUIPMENT MODIFICATIONS AT THE THREE EXISTING AIRPORT SURFACE DETECTION EQUIPMENT ASDE "BRITE" FACILITIES IN AN EFFORT TO IMPROVE THE PERFORMANCE OF THAT EQUIPMENT.
Safety Issue and Context
DURING THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD'S INVESTIGATION OF THE GROUND COLLISION ACCIDENT WHICH OCCURRED AT O'HARE INTERNATIONALAIRPORT, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ON DECEMBER 20, 1972, WE LEARNED THAT VISIBILITY FROM THE TOWER CAB, OFFICIALLY REPORTED AS ONE-FOURTH OF A MILE, LIMITED SEVERELY THE CONTROLLERS' ABILITY TO SEE GROUND TRAFFIC ON THE AIRPORT. THEREFORE, CONTROLLER PERSONNEL CONCERNED WITH THE TWO AIRCRAFT INVOLVED IN THE COLLISION WERE UNABLE TO MONITOR VISUALLY THE MOVEMENTS OF EITHER AIRCRAFT AT ANY TIME, EXCEPT FOR A BRIEF TIME WHEN THE DC-9 TAXIED FROM THE TERMINAL GATE.UNDER THE EXISTING CIRCUMSTANCES, NO ONE IN THE TOWER CAB SAW THE ACCIDENT.
Response History
August 16, 1974 · NTSB Correspondence · FAA
Closed--Acceptable Action.
June 1, 1973 · Recipient Response · FAA
THREE ASDE BRITE DISPLAYS MENTIONED ARE NONSTANDARD INSTALLATIONS. THE FAA SYSTEMS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICE HAS BEEN WORKING THROUGH TSC WITH TEXAS INSTRUMENTS ON AN ASDE-2 RELIABILITY IMPROVEMENT STUDY WHICH ENCOMPASSES ALL OF THE MAJOR TECHNICAL AREAS. WHEN THE REPORT IS FINALIZED--SERIOUS CONSIDERATION WILL BE GIVEN TO RECOMMENDATIONS TO MODIFY AND IMPROVE THE PERFORMANCE OF ASDE-2.