KLM 737 takes off from taxiway at EHAM

[js51672]

KLM 737 takes off from taxiway at EHAM
11-02-2010
It was the PH-BDP flight KL1369



The original article http://www.nu.nl/algemeen/2182654/vlieg ... ibaan.html
A quick and simple translation of the major part of this happening.

"The aircraft was to take off from the Zwanenburg baan (36C) but took off from the parallel taxiway . According to air traffic control the aircraft departed without problems, but without adhering to the procedures.

All three parties involved (KLM, LVNL, Schiphol) will not comment further on the matter.

The incident was reported to the Investigation Board which will investigate the incident. According to a spokesman, this is a runway incursion and it is classified as a serious incident.

The president of the Dutch ALPA, Evert van Zwol, speculates that recent snowfall might have played a roll in the incident.

]
Overview of Runway/ taxiway
http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=534724

[ATC98]

I hope they will give us soon the results of this investigation ... I really would like to know how a home based KLM crew misindentified the runway and the adjacent taxiway at their usual airport !!! As it happened at the end of the day, maybe they were confused by the runways/taxiways lights .... Luck there was no obstacle or other traffic on that taxiway at that time.

[TCAS_climb]

Strange...

• - runway lights are white (turning red towards the end), taxiway lights are blue.
  - taxiways don't have an ILS (i.e. use it to confirm you're on the correct strip of asphalt). 36C doesn't have an ILS ?
  - most control towers now have radars precise enough to spot and identify any movement on the ramp/runways/taxiways. I think in FRA even the cars have a transponder installed.
  - most airports have staffed control towers.

The guys were absorbed by their laptop and a discussion about the new crewing and scheduling system or what ? (NWA 320)

Not long ago an aircraft took off from the taxiway between the parallel runways in FRA. In theory there should have been four people in the tower. Apparently it turned out there wasn't a single soul up there when the aircraft started its takeoff roll.

[js51672]

I think from the tower is nothing serious to see!

[FlightMate]

Strange...

• - runway lights are white (turning red towards the end), taxiway lights are blue.
  - taxiways don't have an ILS (i.e. use it to confirm you're on the correct strip of asphalt). 36C doesn't have an ILS ?
  - most control towers now have radars precise enough to spot and identify any movement on the ramp/runways/taxiways. I think in FRA even the cars have a transponder installed.
  - most airports have staffed control towers.

Taxiway center lights are actually green (or yellow if crossing a runway)

Maybe you meant edge lights? Then they are blue indeed, but the runway edge lights although being white, turn to yellow towards the end.