What happened
On January 29, 2006, an Airbus A319-114, registration C-FYKR, was preparing for a scheduled flight from Las Vegas, Nevada, to Montreal, Quebec. The aircraft, operated by Air Canada, was carrying 84 passengers and 5 crew members. During the departure from Runway 25R, the flight crew performed a rolling takeoff. Shortly after the roll began, the crew realized the aircraft was traveling on the asphalt runway shoulder rather than the centerline.
At approximately 65 knots, the pilot flying applied left rudder to correct the aircraft's path and realigned it with the runway. The takeoff was continued, and the flight proceeded to Montreal without further incident. Following the flight, the crew notified company dispatch of the departure error. A subsequent inspection of the airfield revealed that three runway edge lights had been damaged during the excursion. The aircraft sustained a cut to the left-hand nose-wheel tire, but there were no injuries.
The investigation
The investigation examined the cockpit procedures, airport markings, and environmental conditions. The flight crew was qualified and the aircraft was properly maintained. The investigation focused on why the aircraft was misaligned during the rolling takeoff. Investigators analyzed flight data recorder information and reviewed the taxiway markings at Las Vegas McCarran International Airport. The investigation also noted that the crew's attention was divided due to the requirement to maintain visual separation from a preceding aircraft.