Anxious to minimize departure delays after numerous aircraft had been diverted to cos; the local con...

Narrative:

We had several divert aircraft from dia due to weather. I took the local position as the airport was closing runway 12 for parking aircraft. Within minutes of taking the position there was an opposite direction and numerous inbound aircraft. The ground stop for dia was lifted and the aircraft began to taxi. They were released 15 miles in trail; so I was anxious to get the first ones out as to minimize the delay for the following aircraft. Since there was a C130 on opposite direction approach to R35L; I asked air carrier X if he could accept a runway 12 departure to minimize any additional delay. He accepted and was cleared for takeoff on runway 12. I did scan the runway; it was completely clear. When the aircraft was midfield airborne another controller reminded me that the runway was closed. The airport operations vehicle called ground right away and opened the runway since it wasn't needed or used. I should have written a note to myself about the closure.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Anxious to minimize departure delays after numerous aircraft had been diverted to COS; the local control failed to noted that the departure runway used was technically still closed by airport operations.

Narrative: We had several divert aircraft from DIA due to weather. I took the local position as the airport was closing Runway 12 for parking aircraft. Within minutes of taking the position there was an opposite direction and numerous inbound aircraft. The ground stop for DIA was lifted and the aircraft began to taxi. They were released 15 miles in trail; so I was anxious to get the first ones out as to minimize the delay for the following aircraft. Since there was a C130 on opposite direction approach to R35L; I asked Air Carrier X if he could accept a Runway 12 departure to minimize any additional delay. He accepted and was cleared for takeoff on Runway 12. I did scan the runway; it was completely clear. When the aircraft was midfield airborne another Controller reminded me that the runway was closed. The Airport Operations Vehicle called Ground right away and opened the runway since it wasn't needed or used. I should have written a note to myself about the closure.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.

Attributes
ACN	890338
Time
Date	201005
Local Time Of Day	0001-0600
Place
Locale Reference	COS.Tower
State Reference	CO
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Takeoff
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Local
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Person 2
Function	Flight Data / Clearance Delivery
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy

Anxious to minimize departure delays after numerous aircraft had been diverted to cos; the local control failed to noted that the departure runway used was technically still closed by airport operations.