Narrative:

On nov/xa/99 I was PIC of a B747-400 atl-anc. Prt arrival we check anc ATIS which indicated VMC and lndgs being conducted to ILS runway 6R. Anc approach advised us to expect ILS approach and landing runway 6R. Approaching the FAF at 1600 ft MSL still in IMC, approach advised us to contact the tower. Tower advised us and cleared us for the 'ILS runway 6R approach sidestep to land runway 6L.' my first officer read back the clearance to the tower. At 800 ft MSL I saw the airport environment and at 700 ft I had runway 6R in sight but not runway 6L. At this time I noticed snow removal equipment on runway 6R. At the same time we were on approach, air carrier Y (an air carrier B747 freighter) told the tower that he was on runway 6L waiting to take off on runway 32. Tower cleared air carrier Y for takeoff -- he departed. I again replied to my crew that I did not have runway 6L in sight and queried my crew. The first officer and 2 observers replied that they did not. At 600 ft MSL I executed a missed approach when I entered a 'whiteout condition' caused by blowing snow. We were vectored around where we flew the ILS runway 6R sidestep to land runway 6L without further incident. I felt this incident and possible runway incursion could have been avoided if one of the localizer and visual landing aids for wy 6L were operable. Additionally, tower should sequence departing and arriving traffic accordingly to avoid whiteout conditions caused by blowing snow and jetblast. Runway 6R's closure due to snow removal should have been broadcasted on an updated ATIS, plus notification by approach. I request the tower and approach tapes should be reviewed for further analysis.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A CAPT OF A B747-400 EXECUTED A MISSED APCH ON FINAL TO RWY 6R DUE TO A WHITEOUT CONDITION CAUSED BY BLOWING SNOW FROM A DEPARTING B747.

Narrative: ON NOV/XA/99 I WAS PIC OF A B747-400 ATL-ANC. PRT ARR WE CHK ANC ATIS WHICH INDICATED VMC AND LNDGS BEING CONDUCTED TO ILS RWY 6R. ANC APCH ADVISED US TO EXPECT ILS APCH AND LNDG RWY 6R. APCHING THE FAF AT 1600 FT MSL STILL IN IMC, APCH ADVISED US TO CONTACT THE TWR. TWR ADVISED US AND CLRED US FOR THE 'ILS RWY 6R APCH SIDESTEP TO LAND RWY 6L.' MY FO READ BACK THE CLRNC TO THE TWR. AT 800 FT MSL I SAW THE ARPT ENVIRONMENT AND AT 700 FT I HAD RWY 6R IN SIGHT BUT NOT RWY 6L. AT THIS TIME I NOTICED SNOW REMOVAL EQUIP ON RWY 6R. AT THE SAME TIME WE WERE ON APCH, ACR Y (AN ACR B747 FREIGHTER) TOLD THE TWR THAT HE WAS ON RWY 6L WAITING TO TAKE OFF ON RWY 32. TWR CLRED ACR Y FOR TKOF -- HE DEPARTED. I AGAIN REPLIED TO MY CREW THAT I DID NOT HAVE RWY 6L IN SIGHT AND QUERIED MY CREW. THE FO AND 2 OBSERVERS REPLIED THAT THEY DID NOT. AT 600 FT MSL I EXECUTED A MISSED APCH WHEN I ENTERED A 'WHITEOUT CONDITION' CAUSED BY BLOWING SNOW. WE WERE VECTORED AROUND WHERE WE FLEW THE ILS RWY 6R SIDESTEP TO LAND RWY 6L WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. I FELT THIS INCIDENT AND POSSIBLE RWY INCURSION COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF ONE OF THE LOC AND VISUAL LNDG AIDS FOR WY 6L WERE OPERABLE. ADDITIONALLY, TWR SHOULD SEQUENCE DEPARTING AND ARRIVING TFC ACCORDINGLY TO AVOID WHITEOUT CONDITIONS CAUSED BY BLOWING SNOW AND JETBLAST. RWY 6R'S CLOSURE DUE TO SNOW REMOVAL SHOULD HAVE BEEN BROADCASTED ON AN UPDATED ATIS, PLUS NOTIFICATION BY APCH. I REQUEST THE TWR AND APCH TAPES SHOULD BE REVIEWED FOR FURTHER ANALYSIS.

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.