Narrative:

I was training a developmental on local control combined with ground control; visual approach to runway 9 in use; with good VFR conditions. We had one aircraft; a CRJ2 inbound from the northwest for runway 9; and one vehicle; a suv on runway 13; doing the nightly runway inspection. The CRJ2 was cleared for the visual approach to runway 09 about 12-15 northwest of the airport but accidentally set up for a straight in for runway 13 instead of a left base for runway 09; I saw it but didn't say anything giving my trainee an opportunity to catch it. Fortunately the pilot realized his mistake on about a 2-3 mile final and told us; and then entered a base for runway 09 and landed without a problem. Unfortunately the CRJ2 never saw the vehicle on runway 13 for a few reasons. The vehicle was driving with the flow; so he was never able to see if the was an aircraft landing or taking off because it was behind him; nor was aircraft able to see the vehicle because by driving away from the aircraft with the headlights facing away from the aircraft. Plus the vehicle never turned on or used his 'emergency flashing lights' which are visible for miles and miles when used. Instead he used a small cheap amber light that is barely visible from the tower under the most ideal conditions and only if you're looking for it. The amber light mixes in with all the other airport and back ground lights. Bottom line; the aircraft never saw the vehicle due to poor use or lack of lighting on the vehicle; and the vehicle never saw the aircraft due to the fact it was driving away from the aircraft; the driver was not able to see if there was an 'aircraft about to land on top of the vehicle'!!! Against the advice and request of ATC; the airport authority decided not to use their bright neon flashing strobe emergency red and blue lights. My flm said that the airport authority said; quote; 'the emergency lights may upset the passengers. This is our new policy. The air traffic controllers have no right telling the airport authority how to their jobs'! Fixing this problem is simple: first the airport vehicles need to turn on their 'emergency lights' so that they are visible to the tower and aircraft. Secondly the airport vehicles need to drive against the flow when on the runways so he can see if an aircraft is landing or departing. These are two simple and easy things that the airport authority can do to immediately make things a lot safer.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MLI Controller reported an unsafe situation describing a potential separation event; listing the airports practice of utilizing hard to see vehicle identification lighting when conducting runway checks;

Narrative: I was training a developmental on Local Control combined with Ground Control; Visual Approach to Runway 9 in use; with good VFR conditions. We had one aircraft; a CRJ2 inbound from the northwest for Runway 9; and one vehicle; a SUV on Runway 13; doing the nightly runway inspection. The CRJ2 was cleared for the Visual Approach to Runway 09 about 12-15 northwest of the airport but accidentally set up for a straight in for Runway 13 instead of a left base for Runway 09; I saw it but didn't say anything giving my trainee an opportunity to catch it. Fortunately the pilot realized his mistake on about a 2-3 mile final and told us; and then entered a base for Runway 09 and landed without a problem. Unfortunately the CRJ2 never saw the vehicle on Runway 13 for a few reasons. The vehicle was driving with the flow; so he was never able to see if the was an aircraft landing or taking off because it was behind him; nor was aircraft able to see the vehicle because by driving away from the aircraft with the headlights facing away from the aircraft. Plus the vehicle never turned on or used his 'Emergency Flashing Lights' which are visible for miles and miles when used. Instead he used a small cheap amber light that is barely visible from the Tower under the most ideal conditions and only if you're looking for it. The amber light mixes in with all the other airport and back ground lights. Bottom line; the aircraft never saw the vehicle due to poor use or lack of lighting on the vehicle; and the Vehicle never saw the aircraft due to the fact it was driving away from the aircraft; the driver was not able to see if there was an 'aircraft about to land on top of the vehicle'!!! Against the advice and request of ATC; the Airport Authority decided NOT to use their bright neon flashing strobe emergency red and blue lights. My FLM said that the Airport Authority said; quote; 'the emergency lights may upset the passengers. This is our new policy. The Air Traffic Controllers have NO right telling the Airport Authority how to their jobs'! Fixing this problem is simple: First the airport vehicles need to turn on their 'Emergency Lights' so that they are visible to the Tower and aircraft. Secondly the airport vehicles need to drive against the flow when on the runways so he can see if an aircraft is landing or departing. These are two simple and easy things that the Airport Authority can do to immediately make things a lot safer.

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.