The Comair crash reminds me...

"Steven P. McNicoll" writes:

I wonder if we'll see calls for scheduled service to require active
tower controllers.

Active tower controllers?

As I said, a tower controller who was not (quite yet) on duty ("active")
turned around the commuter plane following me to the wrong (for him)
runway. (Yes, I could have just said "active tower" but the real help
comes from the controller.)

The Today Show this morning had a spot where an NTSB spokesperson said
"during the takeoff roll the flight crew noted that the lights were out
on the runway" then the voice over breaks in with "but the crew never
applied the brakes or radioed the tower. Instead the captain called out
'rotate' telling the first officer to pull up at the appropriate speed."

Was the tower active or was that comment from out of nowhere? If it was
active...well, was the plane really cleared for takeoff onto the wrong
runway?

Also, it sure sounds like they (theoretically) could have made the
takeoff on that runway. Anyone have the performance tables handy?

--kyler