The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the number of reported serious runway incursions in fiscal year 2017 declined to eight from 19 in the previous fiscal year.
Serious runway incursions are defined by the FAA as any occurrence at an airport involving the incorrect presence of an aircraft, vehicle or person on the protected area of a surface designated for the landing and takeoff of aircraft, fall into Categories A or B.
The FAA noted Category A incursions are serious incidents in which a collision was narrowly avoided. Category B incidents are those in which separation decreases, and there is a significant potential for collision, which may result in a time-critical corrective/evasive response to avoid such an occurrence.
FAA officials acknowledged the vast majority of incursions fall into Categories C and D and pose no risk of collision. In fiscal year 2000, they added, there were 67 reported Category A and B runway incursions, of which 43 involved commercial aircraft.
Runway safety light (RWSL) technology has increased situational awareness for pilots and airport vehicle drivers, the FAA said, referencing the process derives traffic information from surface and approach surveillance systems and illuminates red in-pavement airport lights to signal potentially unsafe situations.
The systems include runway entrance lights, which illuminate if it is unsafe to enter or cross a runway, and takeoff hold lights that illuminate when there is an aircraft in position for departure, and the runway is occupied by another aircraft or vehicle and is unsafe for takeoff.