Narrative:

The MD88 was on short final to runway 2 at richmond; va. A military C17 heavy was in the VFR pattern on runway 25. I saw the situation happening and pointed it out to the controllers around me and my supervisor; that this situation was going to be 'close.' at the time I thought the supervisor was going to call the tower to confirm what the operational controller was doing; aka 'the local controller.' the MD88 was less than a mi final and the C17 heavy was at the departure end of runway 25. I have worked in a tower before and I thought people were going to die. To be honest I could not believe what I was watching. I thought I did my job by telling people around me what was going on but everyone did what I was doing and watched this situation happen. I cannot for the life of me find a violation in the 7110.65; but these aircraft were so close it was luck that these aircraft did not hit. I am sure these aircraft saw each other but how could they not when the C17 crossed over the top of the MD88 approximately 200-300 ft. Wake turbulence had to be a factor. I am not one to complain; this is my first report ever; but the management of the FAA is not doing anything when it comes to these type of situations. This operation was not safe by any means.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PCT CTLR EXPRESSED CONCERN REGARDING SEPARATION UTILIZED BY RIC TWR CTLR DURING MULTIPLE RWY OPS.

Narrative: THE MD88 WAS ON SHORT FINAL TO RWY 2 AT RICHMOND; VA. A MIL C17 HVY WAS IN THE VFR PATTERN ON RWY 25. I SAW THE SITUATION HAPPENING AND POINTED IT OUT TO THE CTLRS AROUND ME AND MY SUPVR; THAT THIS SITUATION WAS GOING TO BE 'CLOSE.' AT THE TIME I THOUGHT THE SUPVR WAS GOING TO CALL THE TWR TO CONFIRM WHAT THE OPERATIONAL CTLR WAS DOING; AKA 'THE LCL CTLR.' THE MD88 WAS LESS THAN A MI FINAL AND THE C17 HVY WAS AT THE DEP END OF RWY 25. I HAVE WORKED IN A TWR BEFORE AND I THOUGHT PEOPLE WERE GOING TO DIE. TO BE HONEST I COULD NOT BELIEVE WHAT I WAS WATCHING. I THOUGHT I DID MY JOB BY TELLING PEOPLE AROUND ME WHAT WAS GOING ON BUT EVERYONE DID WHAT I WAS DOING AND WATCHED THIS SITUATION HAPPEN. I CANNOT FOR THE LIFE OF ME FIND A VIOLATION IN THE 7110.65; BUT THESE ACFT WERE SO CLOSE IT WAS LUCK THAT THESE ACFT DID NOT HIT. I AM SURE THESE ACFT SAW EACH OTHER BUT HOW COULD THEY NOT WHEN THE C17 CROSSED OVER THE TOP OF THE MD88 APPROX 200-300 FT. WAKE TURB HAD TO BE A FACTOR. I AM NOT ONE TO COMPLAIN; THIS IS MY FIRST RPT EVER; BUT THE MGMNT OF THE FAA IS NOT DOING ANYTHING WHEN IT COMES TO THESE TYPE OF SITUATIONS. THIS OP WAS NOT SAFE BY ANY MEANS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.