Description

On 5 June 2014, an Augusta AW139 (C-GYNM) being operated by Ornge Rotor Wing on a positioning Medevac flight from Ottawa to Pembroke ON as LF4 began to hover taxi beyond the runway 25 holding point towards the runway at the same time as an Airbus A300-600 (N748FD) being operated by Federal Express on a flight from Mirabel (Montreal) to Ottawa was about to land on the other end of the same runway in day Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC). The TWR Controller saw the incursion and instructed the AW139 to stop. By the time it did this, the A300 was just under 800 metres away and by the time it reached the intersection involved, it was at taxi speed and waited until the AW139 had returned to the holding point before continuing to clear the runway.

Investigation

An Investigation was carried out by the Canadian TSB. ASDE was used as the primary source of recorded factual data relating to the event.

It was noted that the helicopter had been operated by two pilots, both Captains certified on type. The more experienced of the two (5600 hours total flying including 700 hours on type) was designated as aircraft commander and acting as PF on the investigated flight. The Co-pilot had approximately 4500 total flying hours which included 440 hours on type.