Preventing Runway Accidents

1. Preventing Runway Accidents Paul Wilson Head of Airport Throughput EUROCONTROL

2. Traffic Growth 2004 varies EUROCONTROL Short-Term Forecast Total IFR Flights Calendar Year 2004

3. The challenges to growth study 2005 covers the period to 2020 • Traffic could grow by a factor of 2.5 • 60% more capacity will be needed from European airports • High intensity runway operations • Minimum separations

4. Runways are dangerous  300 tons ))))))) 130 mph System needs to be perfect … Nearly will not do

5. One chance? ?

6. Stakeholders Airport operators Air Navigation Service Providers Airlines Regulators

7. Strategy • Establish: • How many • Why • Who • Global definition of a runway incursion • Identify global differences in practice • Build international contacts • Produce an Action Plan • European • Global

8. ICAO runway incursion definition “Any occurrence at an aerodrome involving the incorrect presence of an aircraft, vehicle or person on the protected area of a surface designated for the landing and take off of aircraft” Applicable 25 November 2004

9. Runway Incursion Reports 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 Who is involved 41% 29% 18% How they are classified EUROCONTROL 2004 data

10. Contributory and causal factors Controllers - more than one position Inadequate driver training Complex instructions to different aircraft Controllerhigh speech rate Crew not familiar with the airport RT - two different languages Deficiencies in markings, signage and lighting Multiple rwy ops - closely spaced parallel Frequency congestion/blocked Controller non-standard phraseology Misapplied conditional clearance

11. Contributory and causal factors 2 Communication Controllers - more than one position Crew not familiar with the airport Deficient markings, signage and lighting Multiple rwy ops - closely spaced parallel Misapplied conditional clearance Inadequate driver training

12. Incursions – common trends • Human error 100% • Communication Breakdown More than 50% of pilots and drivers believe they have permission to be on the runway • Breakdown in team role – understanding of problems / tasks / duties

13. 56 recommendations Issued via Regulators Recommendations are flexible Learnt from previous incidents / accidents European Action Plan for the prevention of runway incursions

14. Key recommendation “At individual aerodromes, a Runway Safety Team should be established to lead action on local runway safety issues” Composition – Pilots – (ALR), Air Traffic Controllers, Drivers – Aerodrome operations

15. Local Runway Safety Teams • Signage • Markings • ICAO compliant RT performance • Raise awareness • Local analysis of runway incursions • Checking of maps and charts • Identifying hotspots

16. R/T Performance – A good example Milan Malpensa • Local Runway Safety Team • Routine R/T checks • Standard phraseology • Complexity • Provision of readbacks

17. Key recommendation • Pilots shall not cross illuminated red stop bars when lining up or crossing a runway …

18. Good example – UK NATS

19. Key recommendation • Improve situational awareness by conducting all communications associated with runway operations on a common frequency.

20. Example • London Heathrow 27L/09R • All departing / arriving on the runway controllers frequency • All crossing aircraft (300 per day) transferred as they approach the runway • All towed aircraft (100 per day) likewise • All vehicles (inspection / crossing etc.) likewise Total situational awareness Good example – London Heathrow Airport

21. Runway Safety Awareness CD Rom • From the point of view of the Pilot, Air Traffic Controller and Airside Vehicle Driver. • All the information is ICAO compliant. • There is a self scoring quiz • Local Runway Safety Team information. • Widely distributed.

22. Aerodrome Resource Management • Runway Incursions often occur after breakdown in team role • Joint training for Pilots, Drivers and Air Traffic Controllers working on the manoeuvering area • 3 courses 2005 • 4 courses 2006           WORK AS A TEAM

23. Involvement with individual airports Warsaw • 50 + presentations in 2005 • Working with Local Runway Safety Teams • EUROCONTROL and airline representatives Lisbon Barcelona Vilnius Estonia Latvia Frankfurt Munich Bologna Helsinki Madrid Naples BAA Stockholm Palma Ibiza Malpensa Paris CDG Budapest Venice Amsterdam Rome Skopje Manchester Capetown Nice

24. Human Factors • Aerodrome Operations human centric • We can deal with distraction, high workload etc. • Humans still make inexplicable errors • How to deal with this?

25. Aerodrome Runway Incursion Assessment • All airports at risk • Model looks at specific issues at your airport • Input – layout, ATC procedures, Number of crossings etc. • Output – identifies areas of potential increased risk • On trial at a number of locations • Positive feedback to date ARIA

26. Technology • Now • Positional awareness • Warning to controllers

27. What is needed Positional informationProximity warning for Pilots, Controllers and Drivers

28. Where are we? 1 State reported one incursion in 2002 and 100+ in 2003 True number? 351 Increasing awareness 211 EUROCONTROL Statistical Reference Area (ESRA) More than one per day in Europe

29. Achievements • European Action Plan for the Prevention of Runway Incursions widely implemented • 91% of airports surveyed have established LRST’s • 89% of Local Runway Safety Teams have conducted awareness campaigns • Almost 100% of towers have verified the use of standard ICAO RT phraseologies and taken measures to ensure that ATC communication messages are not over long or complex. • Excellent cooperation between air traffic control, airlines, airports and pilot and controller associations. • Quality and accurate data Preventing Runway Incursions remains a difficult and complex problem

30. European Action Plan for the Prevention of Runway Incursions is available from:www.eurocontrol.int/runwayincursions Email runway.safety@eurocontrol.int Telephone +32-2-729 3789