Narrative:

After listening to ATIS; my first radio call was; 'helicopter X; five to the west inbound; request runway 7.' tower responded something to the effect that runway 7 was not available due to inbound aircraft and that I should enter right downwind for runway 25. His transmission was stepped on by another radio so I didn't hear it all. My second transmission was; 'helicopter X request right downwind for 25?' tower replied to proceed as requested but that he didn't know when he would be able to sequence me in due to numerous inbound aircraft. I performed the before landing checks and entered a right downwind. At about midfield right downwind tower told me I had traffic (don't remember what kind of plane) on a 6 mile final and to report the traffic in sight. I told tower; 'helicopter X searching;' and I slowed my airspeed to about 40 KTS. I continued to slow down so my traffic pattern would stay close to the airport. Once I saw the aircraft I told tower I had the traffic in sight. Tower said; 'maintain visual separation; cleared to land runway 25.' (he may have said cleared to land number 2.) as the airplane on approach passed us; I performed a turn to base; then to final; while accelerating from about 40 KTS to about 80 KTS. I crossed the runway threshold when the aircraft was about a mile in front of me (and on the runway) and I decelerated to land. At about 40 ft and 30 KTS; tower shouted on the radio; 'helicopter X go around' and something about aircraft and runway. I was a little startled and my first thought was that something dangerous was happening that I was unaware of. (Possibly; I had followed the wrong aircraft and was about to get run over by another plane.) I immediately side-stepped to the right of the runway and pulled power and lowered the nose to gain airspeed. It quickly dawned on me that tower meant I had to do a go around because of the aircraft on the runway thousands of feet in front of me. After passing the construction site; I began a right crosswind turn for north traffic. Tower then told me to enter left traffic. I stopped my right turn and immediately turned to the left. According to order jo 7110.65T; subject air traffic control; 3-10-3 a.3 'when the succeeding aircraft is a helicopter; visual separation may be applied in lieu of distance minima.' this paragraph refers to same runway separation distance minima. Therefore; towers command to perform a go around was wrong; and there was nothing wrong with my occupying the runway at the same time as the fixed wing. It also violated common sense as I was almost stopped and the aircraft in front of me was almost a mile away. If tower had thought I had violated some rule; it would have been prudent and much; much safer to let me finish landing and then report the incident. What was tower looking at when I crossed the threshold of the runway? Why did he wait until I had almost stopped to call a go around? I perceive that tower considers us a nuisance and doesn't understand FAA regulations concerning helicopters occupying the same runway as fixed wing aircraft.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Military CH47 helicopter pilot was given a go-around by Local Controller due to an aircraft on the runway. Pilot contended that ATC regulations permit landing with another aircraft on the runway since 'visual separation may be applied in lieu of distance minima' when the succeeding aircraft is a helicopter.

Narrative: After listening to ATIS; my first radio call was; 'Helicopter X; five to the west inbound; request Runway 7.' Tower responded something to the effect that Runway 7 was not available due to inbound aircraft and that I should enter right downwind for Runway 25. His transmission was stepped on by another radio so I didn't hear it all. My second transmission was; 'Helicopter X request right downwind for 25?' Tower replied to proceed as requested but that he didn't know when he would be able to sequence me in due to numerous inbound aircraft. I performed the before landing checks and entered a right downwind. At about midfield right downwind Tower told me I had traffic (don't remember what kind of plane) on a 6 mile final and to report the traffic in sight. I told Tower; 'Helicopter X searching;' and I slowed my airspeed to about 40 KTS. I continued to slow down so my traffic pattern would stay close to the airport. Once I saw the aircraft I told Tower I had the traffic in sight. Tower said; 'Maintain visual separation; cleared to land Runway 25.' (He may have said cleared to land Number 2.) As the airplane on approach passed us; I performed a turn to base; then to final; while accelerating from about 40 KTS to about 80 KTS. I crossed the runway threshold when the aircraft was about a mile in front of me (and on the runway) and I decelerated to land. At about 40 FT and 30 KTS; Tower shouted on the radio; 'Helicopter X go around' and something about aircraft and runway. I was a little startled and my first thought was that something dangerous was happening that I was unaware of. (Possibly; I had followed the wrong aircraft and was about to get run over by another plane.) I immediately side-stepped to the right of the runway and pulled power and lowered the nose to gain airspeed. It quickly dawned on me that Tower meant I had to do a go around because of the aircraft on the runway thousands of feet in front of me. After passing the construction site; I began a right crosswind turn for north traffic. Tower then told me to enter left traffic. I stopped my right turn and immediately turned to the left. According to ORDER JO 7110.65T; Subject Air Traffic Control; 3-10-3 a.3 'When the succeeding aircraft is a helicopter; visual separation may be applied in lieu of distance minima.' This paragraph refers to same runway separation distance minima. Therefore; Towers command to perform a go around was wrong; and there was nothing wrong with my occupying the runway at the same time as the fixed wing. It also violated common sense as I was almost stopped and the aircraft in front of me was almost a mile away. If Tower had thought I had violated some rule; it would have been prudent and much; much safer to let me finish landing and then report the incident. What was Tower looking at when I crossed the threshold of the runway? Why did he wait until I had almost stopped to call a go around? I perceive that Tower considers us a nuisance and doesn't understand FAA regulations concerning Helicopters occupying the same runway as fixed wing aircraft.

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.