In the most serious incident at Los Angeles since 2000, SkyWest (SKYW) narrowly avoided hitting a Gulfstream business jet at Los Angeles recently. The SkyWest pilot, who had been cleared to take off for San Antonio, had accelerated the aircraft to 115 mph, managed to stop 100 feet shy of the Gulfstream crossing an active runway. The controller was heard apologizing to the SkyWest crew, according to the Los Angeles Times, saying the Gulfstream had crossed without clearance.

The incident was the eighth near miss at LAX this year, up from six in 2005, the Times reported.

Regional aircraft have been involved in several close calls just this year, according to DOT's Inspector General, two of which occurred three months apart at O'Hare. Three airports in particular -- Chicago O'Hare, Boston Logan, and Philadelphia -- have experienced a recent increase in incidents. (RAN, October 2, p.1)

The IG is currently conducting a review of FAA's actions to address the issue, especially given the agency's plans to limit or delay implementation of runway surveillance equipment. FAA's plans run counter to a NTSB recommendation - the only one of 21 runway incursions recommendations that remains open - requiring all airports with scheduled passenger service, a ground movement safety system that provides a direct warning to flight crews. The Board called ATC prevention of runway incursions and accidents inadequate largely owing to the time it takes to alert pilots to evasive action. In recent testimony, the Board said, "Situations were instead resolved by flight crew actions that sometimes bordered on heroics or just plain luck."

The near collision comes only three months after another serious incident involving two airlines on the same runway. Construction at the airport has created confusion and operations require aircraft landing on the outer runway to cross the inner runway into order to get to terminals. Apparently, the Gulfstream crew was confused by the layout, trying twice to follow controller instructions to avoid the inner runway on its way to its takeoff position.

Near accidents have remained high despite long-term actions to ban more than one aircraft at a time on or near a runway. Even so, aircraft cross runways about 900 times daily, according to the Times. Local officials indicate that once construction is completed on the airports southernmost runway, which is being moved 55 feet and includes the installation of a center taxiway on which pilots can hold for clearance to cross the inner runway. Earlier this year, SkyWest narrowly avoided a Mesa jet when it took off early, risking a stall.