FAA: Progress Being Made on Airport Safety

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is moving ahead on short-term actions designed to improve safety at U.S. airports, but recent incidents of runway incursions and wrong way departures shows that further steps are needed. Air traffic controllers at Atlanta Hartsfield's tower reported in mid-January a...

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The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is moving ahead on short-term actions designed to improve safety at U.S. airports, but recent incidents of runway incursions and wrong way departures shows that further steps are needed.

Air traffic controllers at Atlanta Hartsfield's tower reported in mid-January a serious runway incursion involving an Atlantic Southeast regional jet and a Delta 757. They said the regional jet crew was instructed to hold short of Runway 27R. The crew read back the instruction but then proceeded to cross the runway without clearance. Doing so, put the aircraft into the path of the departing Boeing 757, which could not abort its takeoff roll. The planes came within approximately 1,500 feet----or about three seconds---of colliding, the controllers said.

Acting FAA Administrator Bobby Sturgell, more than 40 aviation leaders from airlines, airports, air traffic control and pilot unions, aerospace manufacturers, agreed on August 15 to an ambitious plan focused on solutions in: cockpit procedures, airport signage and markings, air traffic procedures, and technology.

The FAA recently offered an update on short-term accomplishments. Meanwhile, work continues on mid- and long-term goals.

All airports with more than 1.5 million enplanements agreed to voluntarily accelerate the enhancement of new airport markings that were originally required by the FAA by June 30, 2008. Fifty-three of the targeted 75 airports have completed painting, 18 airports are planning to complete enhanced markings by the end of the year, and four have committed to complete the upgrade prior to the deadline.

Smaller airports certificated under Part 139 agreed to upgrade existing markings, even though it is not required. Twenty-eight airports have upgraded their markings and 50 airports planned to complete the work by the end of 2007, with 173 additional airports planning to upgrade markings by June 2008. In all, over 300 U.S. airports are at some stage in voluntarily adopting the enhanced markings, and the FAA expects that number to increase..

A draft change to Advisory Circular (AC) 150/5340-1J, Standards for Airport Markings, published in late December will extend an enhanced taxiway centerline requirement to all certificated airports. Comments are due by February 26, 2008.

Based on a review of runway incursion data and wrong runway departure data from 20 airports, the FAA has modified the format for future Runway Safety Action Team (RSAT) meetings and included an evaluation of wrong runway risk factors identified by the Commercial Aviation Safety Team (CAST).

All of the 569 certificated airports in the United States require initial and recurrent training for airport employees such as airport police and airport maintenance workers. There are now 385 airports that now require recurrent training for non-airport employees such as Fixed-Based Operators or airline mechanics. Additionally, 97 airports plan to adopt this requirement.

The Office of Airport Safety and Standards issued a draft change to AC 150/5210-20, Ground Vehicle Operations on Airports, in late December. Public comments are due by February 26, 2008. The draft AC strongly recommends regular recurrent driver training for all persons with access to the movement area and ramp apron areas.

In August, air carriers agreed to provide pilots with simulator or other training that incorporates realistic scenarios from pushback through taxi. The 112 air carriers involved have modified their simulator training accordingly. The air carriers have also reviewed cockpit procedures to identify and develop a plan to address elements that contribute to pilot distraction during taxi.

The airlines said they would establish mandatory recurrent training for non-pilot employees who operate aircraft or vehicles on the airfield. The FAA has reviewed existing training videos and is developing a new ramp safety DVD to be distributed to air carriers for use in training programs.

Meanwhile, the U.S. aviation agency has completed an analysis of procedures pertaining to taxi clearances and found that more explicit taxi instructions are needed. The FAA has forwarded preliminary results to stakeholders for a 30-day review. An analysis of Multiple Landing Clearances has begun.

A partnership agreement between the FAA and the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) was recently signed to establish a voluntary safety reporting system called the Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP). The agreement covers all Air Traffic Organization (ATO) employees. The FAA and NATCA are working together to develop and implement the voluntary reporting system.

On January 15, Sturgell conducted a teleconference with the heads of U.S. airlines to reinforce the need for improved pilot training and cockpit procedure, citing concern over recent high-visibility runway safety events.