Airlines have been reminded of restrictions on planes using the same link route to different runways after two Ryanair planes struck each other at Dublin Airport.
A report from the Air Accident Investigation Unit of the Department of Transport noted a similar incident, which also involved Ryanair planes, occurred at the same location last October.
In the latest incident the Ryanair planes were taxiing to their take off runways along a link route named Link2, at about 7.25am, on April 1. One of the planes was a flight to Zadar in Croatia, the other was a flight to Edinburgh, Scotland. They were both Boeing 737 - 8AS aircraft, one dating from 2007, the second from 2008.
According to the Air Accident Investigation Unit the first aircraft was taxiing via Link2 for a departure on runway 28.
The second aircraft was also taxiing via Link2 for a departure on runway 34. Instructions to the second aircraft included a caution regarding wingtip clearance with the aircraft ahead.
At about 7.25am the first aircraft reported that there may have been contact from the aircraft taxiing behind. This was confirmed by the second aircraft.
Air traffic control halted all aircraft ground movements and coordinated with the emergency services. It was established one plane had damage to its “starboard elevator” while the second plane had damage to its “port winglet”.
Weather and visibility at the time of the occurrence were good.
According to the report, common factors between the recent and October 2014 incidents included both runway 34 and runway 28 being operational at the time.
Another common factor was that an aircraft was stationary with the intention of departing from runway 28, while a second aircraft was manoeuvring through Link2, behind the stationary aircraft, for departure from runway 34.
The air accident investigation unit noted that there were current taxiing restrictions in place on the approaches to runways at the time and it recommended that “in order to prevent further similar events occurring in the vicinity of LINK2” the Irish Aviation Authority should ensure taxiing restrictions “ are restated”.
In response the Irish Aviation Authority said it had, as of the April 2nd restated the restrictions but had also made changes to the taxiing arrangements at the airport.
“This action ensures that hazards associated with this specific portion of airfield are eliminated from the system”, the aviation authority said. It noted the investigation was ongoing and a full report would be published in due course.
Ryanair said it was assisting the air accident unit but had “no further comment to make until the final report is published”.
