Narrative:

An operations vehicle was doing the airfield inspection and holding short of runway 17R. He advised ground control that he 'may need to see if we can suspend operations' to that runway so that he could get the runway inspection done 'while there was daylight'. The local controller had pattern traffic to that runway most aligned with the wind and several arrivals and departures; so the airfield inspection was delayed because of air traffic. Ground control coordinated with local controller to proceed south on runway 17R with the operations vehicle and hold short of runway 8; [as] an air carrier was landing runway 26. The operations vehicle did as instructed and the air carrier landed. Local controller coordinated with ground control to cross runway 8 and exit the vehicle right on taxiway J. Ground control instructed the vehicle to cross runway 8 and exit right at taxiway J and he responded 'negative; operations are suspended'. Baron was on less than a mile final to runway 35L with 2 other aircraft also sequenced to that runway by approach control. Local had to act quickly to send the baron around during a critical phase of flight; the second aircraft landed runway 26; and the third decided to land at a satellite airport. This is an unsafe situation for several reasons in my opinion. I don't understand why a vehicle doesn't have to comply with air traffic instructions. The situation could have turned catastrophic if the aircraft on short final couldn't go-around; or just didn't hear ATC's instructions. If a runway needs to be closed for something such as a routine airfield inspection; then it should be done during off-peak hours. This is not the first time that I have heard of that these operations vehicles close a runway for little reason; but it is the first time that I have been on position to see it. Air traffic needs to be the priority and airport vehicles need to comply with control instructions just like aircraft. If a runway needs to be closed for minor; routine inspections or work; it needs to be done in off-peak hours and airport operations need to use terms that are relevant to civilian air traffic control like 'the runway is closed' not vague phrases like 'suspend operations.'

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LBB Controller expressed concern regarding a runway closure imposed by the airport in order to complete a runway check; noting confusing phraseology was used and pattern traffic was penalized.

Narrative: An Operations vehicle was doing the airfield inspection and holding short of Runway 17R. He advised Ground Control that he 'may need to see if we can suspend operations' to that runway so that he could get the runway inspection done 'while there was daylight'. The Local Controller had pattern traffic to that runway most aligned with the wind and several arrivals and departures; so the airfield inspection was delayed because of air traffic. Ground Control coordinated with Local Controller to proceed south on Runway 17R with the operations vehicle and hold short of Runway 8; [as] an Air Carrier was landing Runway 26. The Operations vehicle did as instructed and the Air Carrier landed. Local Controller coordinated with Ground Control to cross Runway 8 and exit the vehicle right on Taxiway J. Ground Control instructed the vehicle to cross Runway 8 and exit right at Taxiway J and he responded 'negative; operations are suspended'. Baron was on less than a mile final to Runway 35L with 2 other aircraft also sequenced to that runway by Approach Control. Local had to act quickly to send the Baron around during a critical phase of flight; the second aircraft landed Runway 26; and the third decided to land at a satellite airport. This is an unsafe situation for several reasons in my opinion. I don't understand why a vehicle doesn't have to comply with air traffic instructions. The situation could have turned catastrophic if the aircraft on short final couldn't go-around; or just didn't hear ATC's instructions. If a runway needs to be closed for something such as a routine airfield inspection; then it should be done during off-peak hours. This is not the first time that I have heard of that these operations vehicles close a runway for little reason; but it is the first time that I have been on position to see it. Air traffic needs to be the priority and airport vehicles need to comply with control instructions just like aircraft. If a runway needs to be closed for minor; routine inspections or work; it needs to be done in off-peak hours and airport operations need to use terms that are relevant to civilian air traffic control like 'the runway is closed' not vague phrases like 'suspend operations.'

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.