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Airport Operations (including Runway Incursions). Airport Operations. Recent incidents and accidents demonstrate the need to more clearly identify and solve/avoid these Students need to be able to recognize and deal with these problems Breaking them down (categorized by the FAA) – NOTAMS
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Airport Operations • Recent incidents and accidents demonstrate the need to more clearly identify and solve/avoid these • Students need to be able to recognize and deal with these problems • Breaking them down (categorized by the FAA) – • NOTAMS • Signs and Markings • Land and Hold Short Operations (LAHSO) • Situational Awareness • Runway Incursions
Airport Operations • These high risk areas may carry different lessons for glider pilots – including instructors and students - than for other parts of the general aviation community. • The focus depends on the operating environment – different environments give rise to different requirements. • Examples include – • - Aerotowing from a busy public airport with significant general aviation traffic. • - Aerotowing or ground launching from a dedicated glider field with little or no other traffic.
Airport Operations • - Self-launch glider operations when the glider interacts directly in the general aviation environment. • All of the above when sharing the local airspace with other categories of aircraft.
NOTAMS • Advance planning and knowledge of the airspace environment in which operations are to take place is essential. • The local situation can change from day-to-day or even hour-to-hour. • All pilots must be aware of such changes, and temporary rules. • Post 9/11 TFRs and draconian penalties for breach make checking essential. • Even if computer access is available, consider obtaining information from FAA Flight Service Stations – 1-800-WX-BRIEF. • Online information is detailed on Page 13 of the desert sand FIRC Supplement.
LAHSO • A hot-button item for FAA Practical Test orals. • Although of limited application to gliding operations, LAHSO may be applied to landing gliders as well as other traffic at congested controlled airports. • The important issue is to refuse a LAHSO clearance if the landing glider pilot is in any doubt that he/she can comply. • If there is a risk of ‘bursting’ through the clearance, the clearance must be refused.
Signs and Markings • FAA’s concern primarily applies to public airports. • Students need to be familiar with the details set out in AIM Chapter 2, Section 3 (Airport Marking Aids and Signs). • Wider issue isn’t restricted to large public airports. • Any airport or gliderport has the potential to have involuntary incursions arising from failure to have (or observe) proper signs and directions.
Situational Awareness • Good situational awareness is a major key to safe airport operations. • Mixed traffic operations require a good understanding of procedures and needs of the other categories of operations and COMMUNICATION between them. • Need to know typical operating profiles, limitations and requirements – • What to expect. • How to avoid conflicts. • Need for predictability – each category of operation must know the normal procedures of the other categories of operators.
Runway Incursions • Major safety issue and concern of FAA, hence a FIRC core topic. • Flying community has to reduce frequency of runway incursions, and hence collision risk. • Plan is to use technology, infrastructure, procedural and training interventions to decrease human error and increase error tolerance of airport surface movement operations.
Runway Incursions • Instructors play a critical role in attacking the issue. • Every instructor needs to understand the mechanics leading to runway incursions, and prevention techniques. • These need to be conveyed to students so they can be vigilant for traps which can hide impending unsafe conditions – very simple example might be a runway with a ‘dip’ that could hide another aircraft.
Runway Incursions • Strong need to ensure that glider pilots, our students, are prepared for operations from large, public airports. • Increasing importance with growing number of self-launch sailplanes.
Runway Incursions • NOT restricted to large or controlled airports. • Very much applicable to gliding operations, and especially at uncontrolled airports. • Consider the typical uncontrolled gliderport – • - No physical separation of airside from groundside. • - Unrestricted access to the gliderport – even welcoming signs to come right in and have a trial flight! • - Lack of perception on the part of the participants involved - dangers to, or caused by, uncontrolled use – cars and people using taxiways and runways – vehicles and towplanes moving, ropes dragging, even steel ground launch cables falling.
Runway Incursions • - Clear need to review signs, visitor procedures, escorting requirements etc. to keep public separate/protected from flight operations, including the associated ground environment. • - Leaving the visitor problem aside, significant issues exist arising from unbriefed club members or FBO customers. • - Clear need to provide information and education before new club members and FBO customers permitted on field. • - The SSF has a powerful training aid for newcomers in the form of the online SSFWing Runner Course (www.soaringsafety.org) On-Line Learning button.
SSF Wing Runner Course • The SSF Wing Runner Course not only covers requirements of glider hookup and dispatch, but moving, parking, rigging etc. of gliders, and general safety issues and responsibilities. • If runway incursions and other related problems are to be avoided, there needs to be proper supervision of the ground environment – • - Be observant of potential vehicle/aircraft conflicts and other ground obstructions, especially take-off obstructions. • - Prevent towrope dragging issues • - Maintain good communications amongst all users – use radio appropriately. • Natural task for the conscientious CFIG who ought to be a supervisor when not directly involved instructing!
