VASAviation is an awesome YouTube channel that shares some interesting air traffic control situations, with both ATC audio and a recreation of what happened. The channel published an interesting video today, that I think many avgeeks will enjoy.
Sloppy LAX parallel takeoff leads to close call
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is of course a large and busy airport, and it has four (near) parallel runways. While they’re not all used for takeoffs and landings at the same time, it’s not unusual to have two parallel takeoffs.
That brings us to this situation, which unfolded on July 7, 2024. There are two aircraft involved here:
- Sun Country flight SY428 was scheduled to fly from Los Angeles (LAX) to Minneapolis (MSP); it was operated by a seven-year-old Boeing 737-800 with the registration code N840SY
- Air Canada flight AC776 was scheduled to fly from Los Angeles (LAX) to Toronto (YYZ); it was operated by a five-year-old Boeing 737 MAX 8 with the registration code C-GEHQ
The Air Canada jet was cleared for takeoff on runway 25R, and a moment later, the Sun Country jet was cleared for takeoff on the nearly parallel runway 24R.
Planes have takeoff procedures that they use, which often have codes. In this case, the Sun Country 737 was cleared for a certain departure. This takeoff procedure requires maintaining the runway heading, before eventually making a left turn.
The key part of this is that the left turn is only supposed to be made when the air traffic controller calls for it. However, for whatever reason, shortly after takeoff, the Sun Country pilots made a left turn without permission from air traffic control. This put them in the direct path of the Air Canada jet, which was following the correct procedures.
The air traffic controller gets an alert about this, and immediately tells the Sun Country jet to change its course:
“Sun Country 428, stop your turn immediately. Traffic alert, 11 o’clock in a mile, southwest bound, 2,700, turn right eastbound, correction, westbound, immediately.”
While it’s unlikely there would have been a collision, the planes were at similar altitudes, and certainly too close for comfort.
As you’d expect, the air traffic controller eventually gives the Sun Country pilots a number to call, for a possible pilot deviation. Based on the speed of the response from the Sun Country pilots, it sure seems like they were expecting that number, heh.
A moment after the Sun Country pilot reads back those instructions, the Sun Country pilot once again reads back instructions that were intended for another flight. In fairness, the controller maybe could have had a longer pause there, but still, some training might be necessary there.
Below is the VASAviation video about the incident.
Below is what the departure ended up looking like for this Sun Country flight.
Meanwhile below is what the departure looks like under more normal circumstances, when instructions are followed correctly.
A few observations from this incident…
First of all, kudos to the air traffic controller, who is doing an amazing job handling incredibly busy airspace. He strikes a good balance between being assertive and efficient, while also being calm and nice. He also has a really soothing voice, I must say, and I could listen to him all day.
Next, obviously air traffic controllers work in high stress environments, and have a lot on their plate. But my gosh, listening to this, you can’t help but notice just how busy the airspace is. There’s barely a pause between radio exchanges, and for that matter, there’s repeatedly people “stepping over” one another on the radio, due to how busy the frequency is.
Like, how much busier can airspace get while staying safe? It shows how both air traffic controllers and pilots need to be on top of their game 100% of the time, because there’s such little room for error.
Lastly, I just want to acknowledge that this incident isn’t as bad as some of the other recent incidents that we’ve seen, like a Southwest 737 descending dangerously low in Oklahoma City, or a Southwest 737 taking off from a closed runway, or a Southwest 737 having a dangerous go around in Hawaii.
However, this is a really silly mistake by these Sun Country pilots that makes you wonder. LAX is a busy airport, and it’s my understanding that instructions are crystal clear about not making the turn until advised to do so. It’s one thing for one of the pilots to get this wrong, but isn’t this partly why we have two pilots? Did the other pilot not think something was wrong either?
Bottom line
A Sun Country Boeing 737 had an eventful departure from LAX. Long story short, the pilots weren’t following the correct takeoff procedure, and made an unauthorized left turn, putting them right in the direction of an Air Canada 737 taking off on a parallel runway. Fortunately the air traffic controller was on top of his game, and immediately saw what was going on.
What do you make of this LAX incident?
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