When ATC Screws Up

On December 16, 2016, shortly after takeoff at 0119 local time, an EVA Air Boeing 777-300ER apparently came well within 1000 vertical feet of mountainous terrain after departing the Los Angeles (Calif.) International Airport (KLAX). While a formal investigation reportedly is underway at the FAA and the carrier, unofficial transcripts and aircraft tracking data make it clear this event was a very near thing. The publicly available information depicts confusion and uncertainty in the 777s cockpit. It also suggests non-standard phraseology on ATCs part may have contributed to the event. The sidebar on the opposite page explores it a bit more, based on unoffocial sources.

Key Takeaways:

• Communication failures, including misheard clearances and non-standard phraseology, coupled with unmet expectations from both pilots and ATC, are primary drivers of aviation safety incidents.
• The inherent human element in air traffic control systems means errors are possible, necessitating pilots to remain vigilant, question ambiguous instructions, and never accept an unsafe clearance.
• Effective pilot-ATC communication, adhering to standard phraseology, performing clear readbacks, asking for clarification, and maintaining high situational awareness are crucial for mitigating risks and ensuring safe flight operations.

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