An Air Canada Airbus A320-200 was accelerating through 100 kt for takeoff from Calgary International Airport’s Runway 29 when the pilots saw a smaller airplane cross in front of them on an intersecting taxiway. The A320’s crew continued the takeoff, crossing the intersection — airborne — 14 seconds after the smaller aircraft had taxied across the runway centerline.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) says the air traffic control (ATC) practice of allowing aircraft and ground vehicles to cross seldom-used runways without prior coordination among controllers contributed to the Dec. 2, 2016, runway incursion, which was classified as a Class B “serious” incursion.1
The TSB said the incursion, which occurred at 1649 local time, “as twilight was approaching darkness,” was preceded by a change in wind direction, a corresponding change in the active runways and the merger of several controller positions.
According to the TSB’s timeline, at 1648…
