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Las air carrier departure voiced concern regarding an ATC instruction to 'sight' another departure from a parallel runway; the reporter claiming the subject separation is the responsibility of controllers.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 1050479 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201211 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | LAS.Airport |
| State Reference | NV |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | MD-82 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | Takeoff |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Aircraft 2 | |
| Make Model Name | Commercial Fixed Wing |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | Takeoff |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Captain Pilot Flying |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) Flight Crew Multiengine |
| Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 240 Flight Crew Total 20000 Flight Crew Type 18500 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | ATC Issue All Types |
Narrative:
Departing las the other day we were given a takeoff clearance that said; 'do you have air carrier Y on the runway in sight?' we said; 'yes we do.' the tower controller said; 'air carrier X keep the [traffic] in sight; cleared for takeoff 25R.' this type of clearance is given at several airports around the country too. I have some observations and questions. I am accelerating down the runway; checking the engine and aircraft performance; distance remaining; winds/windshear; evaluating the entire situation inside my aircraft to ensure that we are executing a safe and proper takeoff. Now I am expected to do this and keep the preceding aircraft in sight. That is way too much to ask. If you want to conduct departures safely it is an impossible thing to ask. I can not believe that they are legal and endorsed by the FAA! [I] have asked this question of several operations inspectors; tower controllers and company check airman. I have gotten many different answers and there is no clear consensus as to what I am to do. The question is this in two parts. 1) if I accept the clearance to keep the proceeding aircraft in sight how long am I required to keep him in sight? When does this requirement end? 2) what are my required actions/reports if I cannot keep him in sight? To me this is a lazy controller tasking me with doing his job even though I have more than enough to do already.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: LAS Air Carrier departure voiced concern regarding an ATC instruction to 'sight' another departure from a parallel runway; the reporter claiming the subject separation is the responsibility of controllers.
Narrative: Departing LAS the other day we were given a takeoff clearance that said; 'do you have Air Carrier Y on the runway in sight?' We said; 'Yes we do.' The Tower Controller said; 'Air Carrier X keep the [traffic] in sight; cleared for takeoff 25R.' This type of clearance is given at several airports around the country too. I have some observations and questions. I am accelerating down the runway; checking the engine and aircraft performance; distance remaining; winds/windshear; evaluating the entire situation inside my aircraft to ensure that we are executing a safe and proper takeoff. Now I am expected to do this and keep the preceding aircraft in sight. That is way too much to ask. If you want to conduct departures safely it is an impossible thing to ask. I CAN NOT BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE LEGAL AND ENDORSED BY THE FAA! [I] have asked this question of several operations inspectors; tower controllers and company Check Airman. I have gotten many different answers and there is no clear consensus as to what I am to do. The question is this in two parts. 1) If I accept the clearance to keep the proceeding aircraft in sight how long am I required to keep him in sight? When does this requirement end? 2) What are my required actions/reports if I cannot keep him in sight? To me this is a lazy controller tasking me with doing his job even though I have more than enough to do already.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.