Pilots blame signposts for Gatwick runway scare

PILOTS have blamed “bad signage” at Gatwick Airport after a plane nearly ran out of runway as it took off.

A report by the Air Accident Investigation Branch found the mistake in March could have caused a potentially disastrous “overrun” after the Boeing 787-9 began its take-off 1,368ft beyond the proper starting point.

The Buenos Aires-bound jet carrying 270 people left the ground with only 1,968ft of runway to spare.

The Norwegian Airlines aircraft was one of five that failed to start its take-off from the right location at Gatwick’s standby runway between September 2017 and March this year.

The report noted: “After departure both pilots commented that there was not much runway remaining at lift-off.”

It added: “The crew did not identify the beginning of the runway and taxied forward to the landing threshold before beginning take-off. This decreased the take-off distance available and meant that the aircraft did not meet regulated performance requirements for its actual take-off weight. The distance available for the take-off would have been insufficient had an aircraft engine failed and the crew decided to stop.”

Analysis indicated that the aircraft was 12 tons too heavy for the available distance.

The repeated problems on the standby runway follow a proposal by Gatwick bosses to bring it into routine use for departures as part of a plan to increase capacity.

Gatwick said it had agreed to make it easier for pilots to find the beginning of the runway, particularly at night.

A review of the markings by the airport revealed they were not EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency) compliant.

Remedial work was planned for September this year, which would increase the number of arrows painted on the centre line.

Putting the standby runway into routine use could result in more than 84,000 extra flights per year, analysts believe. The 8,400ft emergency runway runs parallel to the 10,800ft main runway and is currently used as a taxiway or as an alternative.

The Communities Against Gatwick Noise Emissions group has complained that the plan would worsen noise pollution for nearby residents.

However, it has also warned that the standby runway is too close to the main runway for safety.