After reviewing alert data from fiscal years 2014 to 2016, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued recommendations on Tuesday to help pilots avoid incursions and collisions in the first two-thirds of runways.
Airport Surface Detection Equipment systems generate alerts when planes or vehicles cross a runway before an arriving or departing plane. The FAA issued a Safety Alert for Operators (SAFO) after a review of alert data revealed a high percentage of “serious incidents” and potential collisions on the first two-thirds of runways.
The FAA SAFO urges pilots to actively listen to air traffic control (ATC) communications, to remain aware of runway hold lines and to stay clear of hold lines unless clearance has been granted.
“To mitigate the risk of runway incursions, flight department managers, instructors and others involved in pilot and airport ground vehicle operator training should ensure all training programs discuss runway incursion prevention, including proper communications, runway status lights and airport signage and markings,” Mark Larsen, the senior manager of safety and flight operations at the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA), said.
The FAA SAFO also recommends that ground vehicle operators actively listen to ATC communications, remain aware of runway hold lines, stay clear of hold lines unless clearance is granted, and clear left and right before crossing a runway.
“Also, all pilots and ground vehicle operators should review the SAFO and ensure familiarity with the FAA’s best practices for safe airport operations,” Larson said.
FAA’s SAFO follows the first season of implementation of the Takeoff and Landing Performance Assessment (TALPA) initiative. TALPA requires airport operators to uniformly and accurately gauge the conditions of non-dry runways to help pilots and flight planners reduce the risk of runway overruns.