Bridge Cargo B744 and Vietnam B789 at Frankfurt on Feb 28th 2019, simultaneous takeoff on neighboured runways

Last Update: March 12, 2019 / 20:40:59 GMT/Zulu time

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Photo of Air Bridge Cargo VP-BIM, Boeing 747-400 — Air Bridge Cargo VP-BIM, Boeing 747-400 (Photo credit: Papas.Dos / Flickr / License: CC by)

Incident Facts

Date of incident
Feb 28, 2019

Classification
Incident

Airline
Air Bridge Cargo

Flight number
RU-418

Departure
Frankfurt/Main, Germany

Destination
Moscow Sheremetyevo, Russia

Aircraft Registration
VP-BIM

Aircraft Type
Boeing 747-400

ICAO Type Designator
B744

An Air Bridge Cargo Boeing 747-400 freighter, registration VP-BIM performing flight RU-418 from Frankfurt/Main (Germany) to Moscow Sheremetyevo (Russia), departed Frankfurt's runway 25L. At the same time a United Boeing 787-9, registration N24972 performing flight UA-926 from San Francisco,CA (USA) to Frankfurt/Main (Germany), was on short final to runway 25L about one minute prior to touch down.

A Vietnam Airlines Boeing 787-9, registration VN-A863 performing flight VN-30 from Frankfurt/Main (Germany) to Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam), departed from Frankfurt's runway 25C at the very same time.

Both VN-30 and RU-418 became airborne almost simultaneously at 14:22L (13:22Z), horizontal separation initially was 490 meters/1600 feet. VN-30 climbed out straight, RU-418 turned slightly left shortly after departure until sufficient separation was established.

Both departing aircraft continued to their destinations without further incidents, the United B789 landed safely on runway 25L a minute later.

The Aviation Herald learned of this occurrence on Mar 1st 2019 through the report by a ground observer and inquired with Germany's ATC Provider DFS (initially to a dead e-mail address delaying the inquiry, inquiry was resent on Mar 5th). Questions raised were, whether VN-30 and/or RU-418 had been issued takeoff clearances, if one or both of them had no takeoff clearance, was an instruction to reject takeoff issued, which regulations govern takeoffs on runways 25L and 25C not being separated far enough for simultaneous operation (from past occurrences it is known, that simultaneous landings and takeoffs are not permitted, landings and takeoff need to be "staggered") and whether there would be an investigation and by whom.

On Mar 8th 2019 the DFS responded that they can not provide further information about the occurrence because investigations have been initiated by both the DFS and Germany's BFU.

On Mar 12th 2019 the DFS followed up stating, that the two takeoffs were almost simultaneously indeed. A local procedure permits the simultaneous takeoff under following preparations: both flights crew need to be informed about the traffic situation and the other aircraft and both departure flight pathes, the flight crews must be able to see the other aircraft and maintain visual separation, the departure routes must diverge and both flight crews need to accept the procedure. Due to the high preparatory effort this procedure is almost never used. In this particular case both crews did not oppose the procedure and received takeoff clearance, the lighter 787 was cleared slightly ahead of the 744 even though no hazard existed by wake turbulence with the winds from 240 degrees at 13 knots. The 787 turned towards the north, the 747 towards the south. The controller kept both aircraft in sight until radar separation requirements had been achieved, then handed both aircraft to departure control. The BFU notified that no investigation was opened.