The Transportation Safety Board (TSB) has released its latest "Watchlist" that points to critical safety issues troubling Canada's transportation system.

Singled out by the Board was the risk of runway collisions, controlled flight into terrain, plus aircraft running off the end of runways and other landing accidents.

TSB Member Kathy Fox outlined the troubling issues for aviation and about the need for Safety Management Systems.

Stated Fox: "The likelihood of a collision on runways at Canada's airports is low. However, should two aircraft collide, or an aircraft collide with a vehicle - the consequences could be catastrophic. That is why this issue is on our Watchlist.

Too often, over 3,800 times since 1999, there have been runway incursions. By focusing on improved procedures and enhanced collision warning systems, we think the risk of these incursions at Canada's busy airports can be lowered," she added.

She said CFIT, or controlled flight into terrain, remains a problem. In Canada, between 2000-2009, pilots flew their aircraft into the ground 129 times. These events account for just five per cent of accidents but nearly 25 per cent of all fatalities TSB urges wider adoption of ground proximity warning systems for smaller aircraft.

"Accidents can happen on the runway or aircraft can fail to stop in time and run off the end. Many of these accidents happen in bad weather - where it is crucial that pilots receive timely information about runway conditions.

"Aircraft running off the end of runways is a problem worldwide. The latest figures from the Flight Safety Foundation reveal that almost thirty percent of aircraft accidents between 1995-2008 were runway overruns, said Fox, who urged lengthening the safety areas at the end of runways.

In a blast against government inaction, the independent federal body said its recommendation for the creation of 300-metre safety areas at the end of major runways has been ignored by Ottawa and the country's big airports.