2 planes on the same runway

[time builder]

OK, this seems like a good thread category that has sat empty long enough.

A couple weeks ago I was flying into an airport with some very gusty winds. I, along with a few others, had to go around on my first approach and lined up for another approach behind another plane. I could tell the controller was overloaded when he cleared me to land for "whatever runway I was lined up with."

The guy ahead of me was having a hard time with the winds too. He ended up missing exit after exit and finally got off at the end. The controller said "there's adequate space between you and the preceeding aircraft, cleared to land." I was about 50 feet off the ground and had already made the decision to go around with the other plane still on the runway (it was a 6500 foot runway). "I've already got climb power in," I replied, "I'm going around."

Was that correct of him to clear me to land with the other plane still on the runway? Or was he just completely overloaded with all the traffic, and making an inappropriate suggestion?

 

[Andy Neill]

It was probably correct. Aircraft can be cleared to land on the same runway with as little as 3000 feet longitudinal separation. See FAA Order 7110.65R, Chapter 3, Section 10, para 3 as given here:

http://www.faa.gov/atpubs/ATC/Chp3/atc0310.html#3-10-3

 

[avbug]

He was correct to offer you the clearance, and you were correct to make a decision based on your comfort level.

 

[pilotyip]

We used have four airplanes on the same runway, 6,000' by 150' divided into four quadrants, of 3,000' by 75'. Have two taking off and two landing at the same time. No control tower, being flown by students with less than 20 hrs total flight time. Saufley Field T-34 1966

 

[time builder]

It was probably correct. Aircraft can be cleared to land on the same runway with as little as 3000 feet longitudinal separation. See FAA Order 7110.65R, Chapter 3, Section 10, para 3 as given here:

http://www.faa.gov/atpubs/ATC/Chp3/atc0310.html#3-10-3

Very interesting. When it refers to aircraft category I, II, and III the diagram would imply that it is refering to aircraft size, not instrument approach capabilities. Am I correct? Any relation to categories A, B, C with reference to approach speeds?

 

[Andy Neill]

From the same manual:

NOTE-
Aircraft same runway separation (SRS) categories are specified in Appendices A, B, and C and based upon the following definitions:​

CATEGORY I- small aircraft weighing 12,500 lbs. or less, with a single propeller driven engine, and all helicopters.​

CATEGORY II- small aircraft weighing 12,500 lbs. or less, with propeller driven twin-engines.​

CATEGORY III- all other aircraft.​

[Has nothing to do with approach speeds directly - just weight.]

To add my war story to the mix, I was in one of three helicopters cleared for a full autorotation to touchdown to the same runway at the same time at K-16 (?) in Korea. Each of us was given a third of the runway.​