Paul 5r4
Well Known Member
I had a close call recently at my home field. I was at the hold short lines of runway 18 completing a run up. A gyro copter made a landing on 18. I was in the middle of my run up and didn't hear anything other than his full stop final approach call. After completing the run up I scanned for traffic and saw none. I figured the copter was taxing back to the hangers. Note that at my field one can not see another plane sitting at the opposite end 3700 feet away due to a slight hill in the middle. I cleared the approach end, the departure end and the runway itself. After my radio call, I taxied onto the runway and took off. RV's rotate quickly so the nose was obstructing my view as I climbed. At about 50 feet, I heard the gyrocopter call me asking if I had heard their radio calls. Due to the terrain of the hill in the middle, (I guess that's what caused it), I hadn't heard anything. He informed me they had to abort their takeoff because of me. I remained professional on the radio but inside I was boiling. They had just landed on 18 and obviously saw me sitting there. Radio calls to contact me with no response from me and they decide to takeoff 36 ANYWAY knowing full well I was down there and surly ready to go. After lots of self evaluation, I came to this conclusion. The only control I have over anything is my thinking and actions. I believe he was totally wrong for what they did but we'd all be just as dead anyway. I ASSUMED they were taxing to the hangers. Despite the fact I could not see them, I SHOULD have confirmed their position before entering the runway. We do things a thousand times and all it takes is one thing or one other aircraft to change up the whole scenario. Thankfully this time it ended well. Be careful out there!
Meant to put this under Safety. Mod. can move it. Sorry.
Meant to put this under Safety. Mod. can move it. Sorry.
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