U.S.-registered aircraft crossing the North Atlantic is hardly new, but smaller jet and turboprop airplanes are making many more crossings than even a decade ago. Because some of these pilots fly primarily in domestic airspace, they might not have experienced some of the intricacies needed to safely operate from countries where English is not the first language.
Citation Departs Controlled Airport Without a Clearance
Key Takeaways:
- A U.S.-registered Cessna Citation nearly collided with a sanding truck after taking off without clearance from Reykjavík, largely due to a breakdown in communication.
- The air traffic controller's use of both English (for the aircraft) and Icelandic (for the truck) created a language barrier that potentially prevented the U.S. pilots from understanding critical ground traffic information.
- The Citation crew initiated an unauthorized takeoff, with the pilot citing a perceived urgent need to depart due to icy runway conditions.
- The incident underscores the crucial need for pilots to exercise extra vigilance and confirm all clearances when operating in countries where English is not the native language, despite ICAO standards.
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