What happened
On the afternoon of August 14, 2002, an A319, registration I-BIMO, was cleared for takeoff from runway 28 at Lamezia Terme airport. During the takeoff roll, once the aircraft had reached a speed of approximately 40 to 50 knots, the flight crew observed a maintenance vehicle, identified as "Giallo 31," stationary on the center of the runway. The crew elected to continue the takeoff roll, determining this to be the safest course of action. After successfully lifting off, the commander notified Lamezia APP of the vehicle's presence on the active runway.
The investigation
The ANSV investigation established that the maintenance vehicle was on-site to perform work on the airfield lighting systems. Due to the primary maintenance vehicle being unavailable, a rental car had been temporarily authorized for use in the maneuvering area. The investigation found that there had been no radio communication between the ground controller (GND) and the vehicle between 16:36 and the time of the incident. Furthermore, the investigation noted that the takeoff clearance was issued by the Lamezia APP controller without verifying that the runway was clear of all obstructions.
Findings
- The primary cause was the issuance of takeoff clearance by the controller while a vehicle remained on the runway without proper verification of safety requirements.
- The rental vehicle lacked the required high-visibility markings and safety equipment mandated for operations in maneuvering areas.
- Inadequate coordination between the ground (GND) and approach (APP) controllers contributed to the incident.
- The low position of the sun on the horizon likely hindered the crew's ability to detect the vehicle earlier in the takeoff roll.