Narrative:

Cleared runway 28L visual approach and landing. On short final, observed air carrier Y widebody transport holding between runways 28L&right awaiting takeoff clearance runway 28R. The air carrier Y was stopped short of the designated hold line at runway 28R. The tail of the widebody transport was very close to the runway 28L runway edge. All 3 crew members expressed doubt as to adequate clearance between the 2 widebody transport's. The 2 available choices were land long or go around. We chose to adjust our flight path to ensure adequate clearance and land long at approximately 3000 ft. The intent of this report is to bring attention to the importance of the hold line. I often observe aircraft that stop well short of the hold line, instead of stopping at the hold line. It is easy to see what's in front, but very difficult to know where your tail is.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LNDG OVERSHOT BY ACR WDB TO AVOID TAIL OF ANOTHER WDB IN GND HOLDING POS.

Narrative: CLRED RWY 28L VISUAL APCH AND LNDG. ON SHORT FINAL, OBSERVED ACR Y WDB HOLDING BTWN RWYS 28L&R AWAITING TKOF CLRNC RWY 28R. THE ACR Y WAS STOPPED SHORT OF THE DESIGNATED HOLD LINE AT RWY 28R. THE TAIL OF THE WDB WAS VERY CLOSE TO THE RWY 28L RWY EDGE. ALL 3 CREW MEMBERS EXPRESSED DOUBT AS TO ADEQUATE CLRNC BTWN THE 2 WDB'S. THE 2 AVAILABLE CHOICES WERE LAND LONG OR GAR. WE CHOSE TO ADJUST OUR FLT PATH TO ENSURE ADEQUATE CLRNC AND LAND LONG AT APPROX 3000 FT. THE INTENT OF THIS RPT IS TO BRING ATTN TO THE IMPORTANCE OF THE HOLD LINE. I OFTEN OBSERVE ACFT THAT STOP WELL SHORT OF THE HOLD LINE, INSTEAD OF STOPPING AT THE HOLD LINE. IT IS EASY TO SEE WHAT'S IN FRONT, BUT VERY DIFFICULT TO KNOW WHERE YOUR TAIL IS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.