Sunday, September 9, 2012

What could possibly go wrong - for real this time

Unlike last time, this one's not so funny, and actually is a serious problem that we're working on. Today, I'll show you the strips, and give those of you playing along at home a chance to study them. See if you can spot the problem here:




16 comments:

  1. Two planes have the same proposed departure time for the same runway? The only other difference I see from your last post is lack of revision number.

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  2. Both leaving at the same time? Volaris should turn left and head to MMX Virgin turns right and heads up to SFO. Virgin has TCAS and ACARS in their airplane. 10K feet separating flight levels.
    Tell us please!!!!!

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  3. Same flight number, Volaris 927 and Redwood 927 both departing at 1820

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  4. Similar callsigns and flight numbers with exact the same proposal time can cause serious confusion and can potentially lead to flight plan processing problems. Quite commonly the wrong flight plan being departed/activated or mixup between the two actual aircraft....

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  5. VERY similar flight numbers, VERY similar types.....what could go wrong!!!! :-)

    John Spencer (Liverpool)

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  6. Similar sounding callsigns. VOI=Volaris VRD=Virgin America (Redwood).

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  7. Here are the issues I see:
    1) Two similar airplanes (A320 and A319)
    2) Identical flight numbers (numerical portion)
    3) Exact same estimated departure time


    While this could be confusing - controllers could warn them ahead of time - e.g. "Volaris 927 be advised there is a Redbird 927 on frequency". Another mitigating factor is that the airline callsigns are different enough. After the airplanes are far enough out of the Terminal Area they'll be talking to different controllers anyway.

    - VXG

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  8. Similar flight numbers (927) and same departure?? time (1820)?

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  9. I think the problem is that the two flight numbers AND three-letter idents look the same. The strips are just about identical from farther away. When working quickly in the tower, you could very easily grab the wrong one when moving it to the next controller.

    You would have to alert both of the aircraft of similar sounding callsigns and alert the next ATCS of the similarity for good measure.

    O'HareAviation
    www.youtube.com/ohareaviation

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  10. Long routes cut off the RMKS section of the flight strip when you make route amendments. VOI927 seems to have filed for just the LAX VOR and, if I understand right, you have amended his clearance for the LAXX6 departure MZB transition.

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  11. Same flight number with the same departure time?

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  12. Here is my guess CaptainVector...VRD and VOI airline designations...for the same flight number. If one was to quickly glance at the strip without confirming...Virgin may be vectored to Mexico!!!!

    Enjoying your blog from the other West Coast!!!

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  13. Answer....coming I hope!!!!!!!!!!

    MissTWA

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  14. I can't see the problem, but am curious about an answer! Something about separation, or a mechanical?

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  15. The paint colors would be different.

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