Overview
On April 22, 2022, a serious incident occurred at Kansai International Airport when a Japan Coast Guard Eurocopter EC225LP (registration JA687A) was on approach to the helipad with landing clearance from the tower controller. Simultaneously, an inspection vehicle operated by Kansai Airports, which had been cleared by the ground controller to enter the helipad and heli-spot, proceeded onto the helipad. The helicopter executed a go-around after the crew noticed the vehicle.
Sequence of Events
At 12:06, the helicopter established communication with the tower controller while about 8 nm west of the airport. The tower instructed the flight to proceed to the visual reporting point "RINKU" via the southern side of the airport. Meanwhile, the inspection vehicle had been conducting a scheduled afternoon runway inspection since 12:02, with clearances from the ground controller. At 12:11:57, the helicopter reported over RINKU, and at 12:12:01, the tower issued a landing clearance for the helipad via the BRIDGE ARRIVAL route. Almost simultaneously, the ground controller provided the vehicle with information about an arriving aircraft and did not notice the landing clearance to the helicopter.
The vehicle informed the ground that it was finishing the runway inspection and would vacate via Taxiway A1. At 12:12:27, the vehicle vacated the runway and reported the inspection result. The ground then cleared the vehicle to enter the helipad and heli-spot at 12:12:40. The tower did not notice this clearance. The ground became busy with departure traffic and did not monitor the helicopter's position.
Another air traffic controller behind the tower and ground noticed the conflicting clearances and alerted the ground that a helicopter was coming. The tower informed the ground that a landing clearance had been issued. At 12:13:03, the ground began informing the vehicle that a helicopter was approaching, but could not immediately provide specific evacuation instructions. At 12:13:16, the helicopter turned for final approach, and the captain visually identified the vehicle entering the connected taxiway toward the helipad. The vehicle then entered the helipad. At 12:13:25, the co-pilot reported the vehicle's presence to the tower. The tower, having already decided to instruct a go-around, issued the instruction at 12:13:30. The helicopter executed the go-around at 12:13:37.
Coordination Issues
Communications between the tower and ground controllers revealed differing assumptions. The ground believed the tower had approved the vehicle's entry to the helipad based on earlier conversations, while the tower did not intend such approval. The tower decided to have the helicopter land before another arriving aircraft but did not inform the ground of this decision due to perceived busyness. Both controllers removed reminders related to the runway inspection after it ended, which may have affected situational awareness.
Conclusion
This occurrence was classified as a serious incident equivalent to "an attempt of landing on a runway being used by other aircraft." No injuries or damage were reported.