NTSB · Safety Recommendation
Safety Recommendation A-73-024
Recommendation
ESTABLISH STANDARD PROCEDURES FOR THE USE OF AIRPORT SURFACE DETECTION EQUIPMENT ASDE RADAR, AND PUBLISH SUCH PROCEDURES IN APPROPRIATE AIR TRAFFIC HANDBOOKS.
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
December 3, 1975 · NTSB Correspondence · FAA
Closed--Acceptable Action
June 1, 1973 · Recipient Response · FAA
A CURRENT ASDE STAFF STUDY BY FAA'S AIR TRAFFIC SERVICE INDICATES A NEED FOR MORE SPECIFIC GUIDELINES CONCERNING "HOW AND WHEN" ASDE SHOULD BE USED. 8/15/75 HANDBOOK 7110.8C WAS REISSUED ON 1/1/75 AND REDESIGNATED 7110.8D. THE PROPOSED REVISION SUGGESTED BY FAA AIR TRAFFIC SERVICE SPECIALISTS WAS INCORPORATED IN THE REVISED AND REDESIGNATED HANDBOOK UNDER SECTIONS 1680, 1681 AND 1682.