Simultaneous Opposite Direction Parallel Runway Operations on:
[Wikipedia]
[Google]
[Amazon]
Simultaneous opposite direction parallel runway operations, or SODPROPS, is a method of coordinating the arrival and departure of aircraft on parallel
Draft Parallel Runway Operating Plan, Brisbane Airport Corporation
Retrieved 2010-10-27
Retrieved 2010-10-27
Australian transport Safety Bureau-SODPROP Approach Incident Report
Air traffic control
Simultaneous opposite direction parallel runway operations, or SODPROPS, is a method of coordinating the arrival and departure of aircraft on parallel runways
According to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a runway is a "defined rectangular area on a land aerodrome prepared for the landing and takeoff of aircraft". Runways may be a man-made surface (often asphalt, concrete, o ...
. Airports that have two parallel runways can use this method so that aircraft can arrive on one runway while another aircraft can depart simultaneously in the opposite direction on the parallel runway. For example, an aircraft can depart runway 09R while another aircraft lands on runway 27R. This potentially maximizes the efficient coordination of aircraft in certain weather conditions as well as aiding in noise abatement.
Incidents
On January 15, 1997, at 6:30 am local time, simultaneous opposite-direction parallel runway operations were in use atKingsford Smith International Airport
Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (colloquially Mascot Airport, Kingsford Smith Airport, or Sydney Airport; ; ) is an international airport in Sydney, Australia, located 8 km (5 mi) south of the Sydney central business district, in the ...
in Sydney, Australia
Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the States and territories of Australia, state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and List of cities in Oceania by population, Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metro ...
. An Airbus Industries
Airbus SE (; ; ; ) is a European multinational aerospace corporation. Airbus designs, manufactures and sells civil and military aerospace products worldwide and manufactures aircraft throughout the world. The company has three divisions: '' ...
A320-211 departed on runway 16L while an international Boeing 747
The Boeing 747 is a large, long-range wide-body airliner designed and manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes in the United States between 1968 and 2022.
After introducing the 707 in October 1958, Pan Am wanted a jet times its size, t ...
to the south was approaching runway 34L and because of this the Airbus A320 was required to turn left directly after takeoff to 115 degrees. However, the crew mistakenly dialed 155 degrees into the autopilot
An autopilot is a system used to control the path of an aircraft, marine craft or spacecraft without requiring constant manual control by a human operator. Autopilots do not replace human operators. Instead, the autopilot assists the operator' ...
. After take off the crew realized they had set the incorrect heading and were maintaining 155 degrees. Air traffic control noticed the aircraft had not turned left but was unable to instruct them as the crew had transferred to the departure radio frequency where they were then instructed to turn to heading 115. The Pilot in Command of the Airbus A320 claimed to have the Boeing 747 in sight, however the crew of the 747 did not sight the Airbus A320. Neither aircraft breached distance separation standards for the SODPROPS approach, however an occurrence investigation was opened by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is Australia's national transport safety investigator. The ATSB is the federal government body responsible for investigating transport-related accidents and incidents within Australia. It covers air ...
.
See also
*Instrument landing system
In aviation, the instrument landing system (ILS) is a precision radio navigation system that provides short-range guidance to aircraft to allow them to approach a runway at night or in bad weather. In its original form, it allows an aircraft to ...
* Air traffic control
Air traffic control (ATC) is a service provided by ground-based air traffic controllers who direct aircraft on the ground and through a given section of controlled airspace, and can provide advisory services to aircraft in non-controlled airs ...
References
{{ReflistDraft Parallel Runway Operating Plan, Brisbane Airport Corporation
Retrieved 2010-10-27
Retrieved 2010-10-27
Australian transport Safety Bureau-SODPROP Approach Incident Report
Air traffic control