ATB5-1

Runway Incursions and Situational

Awareness

A runway incursion is "Any occurrence at an airport 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."

Runway Incursion

• Complex & Confusing Intersections

• Runway/Runway Intersections

• Runway/Taxiway Intersections

• Runway Thresholds

Common Locations of Runway Incursions Regardless of Airport Size

or Level of Operational Activity

Runway Incursions

The FAA categorizes Runway Incursions inFour categories depending on the potentialFor collision.

A - Separation decreases and participants take extreme action to narrowly avoid a collisionB - Separation decreases and there is a significant potential for collisionC - Separation decreases but there is ample time and distance to avoid a potential collisionD - Little or no chance of collision but meets the definition of a runway incursion

Severity Categories

ABC

D

Animated Illustration

9

Little or no risk of

collision

Ample time and distance to avoid collision

Significant

potential

for collision

Barely

avoid

collision

Above scenarios are all classified as runway incursions, but with different severity codes.

• In each case the taxiing aircraft penetrated the runway safety area (hold position) AND

• A collision hazard or loss of separation occurred with the landing aircraft.

Tower Operations (millions)

9.0

13.0

11.0

12.0

14.0

8.0

10.0

Ru

nw

ay

Inc

ursio

n R

ateR

un

way In

cursio

ns p

er 1,000,000 Tow

er Op

eration

s

YTD 05/18/08

11.56

12.36

63.12 63.01

13.34549 as of 05/18/07

Rate est. 14.46* as

of 05/18//08

61.13

* Rates are based on Estimated Tower Operations

14.60

61.15

15.0

All Categories of Runway Incursions

Severity Distribution of Runway Incursions

FY 2008 YTD (05/18/08)FY 2004-2007

Runway Incursions

• 480 Air Traffic Control Towers

• 268 million operations (67 million/year)

• 1460 incursions total (5 incursions/million)

• Over 80% are Category C and D events

• 71% of aircraft incursions involve two GA aircraft

Pilot Deviation

Pilot Deviation (PD)

The actions of a pilot that result in the violation of a Federal Aviation Regulation.

When it appears that the actions of a pilot constitute a possible pilot deviation, the controller will notify the pilot, workload permitting, using the following phraseology

“(aircraft identification) possible pilot deviation, advise you contact (facility) at (telephone number)”.

Common Factors in Pilot DeviationsCommon Factors in Pilot DeviationsCommon Factors in Pilot DeviationsCommon Factors in Pilot DeviationsCommon Factors in Pilot DeviationsCommon Factors in Pilot Deviations

Common Factors in Pilot DeviationsCommon Factors in Pilot DeviationsCommon Factors in Pilot Deviations

31% Improper readback / hearback

56% Not following ATC instructions

Common Factors in Pilot Deviations

Vehicle / Pedestrian Deviation (V/PD)

Crossing the holding position markingWithout ATC authorization

Operational Error

Operational Error (OE) FAA Orders

An occurrence attributable to an element of the air traffic system in which:

• Less than the applicable separation minima results between two or more aircraft, or between an aircraft and terrain or obstacles; or

• An aircraft lands or departs on a runway closed to aircraft operations after receiving air traffic authorization

Distribution by Type of Runway Incursions

FY 2008 YTD (05/18/08)

FY 2004-2007

ATC ERRORS - INCURSIONS DUE TO….

32% inadequate scan

32% poor communications

25% deviation from SOP

10% Lapse ofmemory

FAA’s DEFINITION OF SITUATIONAL AWARENESS

• According to the FAA 7210.3 ….. ”Situational awareness is defined as a continuous extraction of environmental information, integration of this information with previous knowledge to form a coherent mental picture, and the use of that picture in directing further perception and anticipating future events.”

Challenges facing Air Crews

and Air Traffic Controllers

• Taxi operations are difficult and potentially hazardous

• Air traffic volume is expected to increase

• Air Traffic System is more complex

• Airport layout design is more complicated

• Technology improvements at airports have not kept pace with demand

• Taxi operations are difficult and potentially hazardous

• Air traffic volume is expected to increase

• Air Traffic System is more complex

• Airport layout design is more complicated

• Technology improvements at airports have not kept pace with demand

Causes of Major Runway Incursions and OE’s

• Loss of Situational Awareness

• Misunderstanding ATC / Pilot communications

• Lapse in short-term memory

• Deviation from SOPsHUMAN ERROR

LOSS OF SITUATIONAL AWARENESS

STRATEGY-Plan your “head down” time wisely• Stripmarking / Chart reading• Reading weather• Adjusting controls• Non essential duties

LOSS OF SITUATIONAL AWARENESS

STRATEGY-Use memory joggers- Writing pads- Strips- Lights / Bells / Controls

LOSS OF SITUATIONAL AWARENESS

or… “Looking at our surroundings through a straw”

STRATEGY - • Keep the “BIG” picture• SCAN – look out the

windows

LOSS OF SITUATIONAL AWARENESS

STRATEGY –

Continue to Scan even when reading a clearance / reading back a clearance or performing other duties

LOSS OF SITUATIONAL AWARENESS

LUAW (Line up and Wait) = time for extra vigilance

STRATEGY- Controller – Some type of memory joggerPilot – Should wait no more than a minute in position without confirming TIPH with tower

Know whois who!

Know whois where!

PILOTS AND CONTROLLERS

CONTROLLER / PILOT MISUNDERSTANDING

STRATEGY - • Use your headset rather

than the speaker and microphone

• Use standard phraseology

LISTEN TO READBACKS

STRATEGY –

• Keep tower cab / cockpit free of distractions, whether your busy or not.

• Keep non-operational conversations to a minimum

LAPSE IN SHORT-TERM/WORKING

MEMORY

LAPSE IN SHORT-TERM/WORKING

MEMORY

• 6-8 items, 20-second retention

• Task saturation is a ATC and Pilot reality

STRATEGY –

Don’t take on more than

you can handle

REVIEW

• Runway incursions (RIs) are infrequent events (5 per million operations).

• 80% of RIs are minor in severity.• Catastrophic RIs are rare (4 since1989).• Aircraft operations contribute to RIs in proportion

to their representation in the NAS.• Most common RIs involve 2 GA planes but are in

the minor category.• Pilot Deviations account for a majority of runway

incursions. • Rate of major incursions at busiest airports are

twice those of the rest of the airports.

Runway Incursion Prevention Methods

• Close teamwork and clear coordination is essential between pilots and controllers.

• An effective scan of the active runways and taxiways by controllers and

pilots is an absolute must.

“ A superior pilot uses his superior judgment to avoid situations that require the use of his superior skill.”

Aviation proverb