New proposals to augment airport surface detection equipment, model X (ASDE-X), and tighten airfield lighting practices have lengthened the list of safety recommendations inspired by a nighttime taxiway-landing incident. The landing involved a Boeing 767-300ER at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), recalls the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). No injuries or aircraft damage occurred at 0605 local time on Oct. 19, 2009, when the Delta Air Lines flight being handled as a medical emergency — and initially cleared to land on Runway 27L — was cleared by air traffic control (ATC) to land on Runway 27R, a runway usually assigned for departures.
One minute and 40 seconds after accepting the side-step approach, the flight crew landed on Taxiway M, 200 ft (61 m) north of and parallel to the runway. The weather for the airport, reported at 0552, included calm winds and clear sky with visibility of 10 mi (16 km).
Having explained in October 2010 the human …
