ICAO providing support for implementation of runway safety programmes

摘要

Runway incursions have sometimes led to serious accidents with heavy loss of life. Although they are not a new problem, runway incursions have been on the rise at many aerodromes, a disturbing trend that calls for preventive action. Statistical data collected by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) during fiscal years 1999-2002, and similar data from a survey conducted in Europe during 2001, indicate that pilot error is a major contributing factor in over half of reported runway incursions. Pilot deviations contributed to 51 percent of occurrences, according to FAA data, while deviations by ground vehicle drivers contributed to 29 percent and operational errors by air traffic controllers accounted for the remaining 20 percent of occurrences. The FAA analysis was based on a total of 382 reported incursions at 35 U.S. airports equipped with air traffic control (ATC) towers and safety technology such as the airport movement area safety system (AMASS) and/or airport surface detection equipment (ASDE).