Runway Incursions and Situational Awareness ATB5-1

Runway Incursion 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."

Complex & Confusing Intersections Runway/Runway Intersections Common Locations of Runway Incursions Regardless of Airport Size or Level of Operational Activity Complex & Confusing Intersections Runway/Runway Intersections Runway/Taxiway Intersections Runway Thresholds

The FAA categorizes Runway Incursions in Four categories depending on the potential For collision. A - Separation decreases and participants take extreme action to narrowly avoid a collision B - Separation decreases and there is a significant potential for collision C - Separation decreases but there is ample time and distance to avoid a potential collision D - Little or no chance of collision but meets the definition of a runway incursion

Severity Categories 9 B A C D Animated Illustration 9 B A C D Ample time and distance to avoid collision Significant potential for collision Barely avoid collision Little or no risk of 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.

All Categories of Runway Incursions Runway Incursions per 1,000,000 Tower Operations Runway Incursion Rate Rate est. 14.46* as of 05/18//08 15.0 14.60 14.0 13.0 13.34 549 as of 05/18/07 12.0 12.36 11.0 11.56 10.0 9.0 8.0 63.12 63.01 61.13 61.15 YTD 05/18/08 Tower Operations (millions) * Rates are based on Estimated Tower Operations

Severity Distribution of Runway Incursions FY 2004-2007 FY 2008 YTD (05/18/08)

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 Deviations 31% Improper readback / hearback 56% Not following ATC instructions

Vehicle / Pedestrian Deviation (V/PD) Crossing the holding position marking Without ATC authorization

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

ATC ERRORS - INCURSIONS DUE TO…. 25% deviation from SOP 32% poor communications 32% inadequate scan 10% Lapse of memory

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

Causes of Major Runway Incursions and OE’s Loss of Situational Awareness Misunderstanding ATC / Pilot communications Lapse in short-term memory Deviation from SOPs HUMAN ERROR

LOSS OF SITUATIONAL AWARENESS STRATEGY- Plan your “head down” time wisely Stripmarking / Chart reading Reading weather Adjusting controls Non essential duties STORY: LAHSO operation at TPA HEAD-DOWN ACTIVITIES-changing frequency to Ground Control after landing, switching the transponder to standby, or waiting till clearing the runway to locate the airport diagram. Some of these activities can also be called “vertigo traps” leading to Spatial Disorientation.

LOSS OF SITUATIONAL AWARENESS STRATEGY- Use memory joggers Writing pads Strips Lights / Bells / Controls STORY: LAHSO operation at TPA HEAD-DOWN ACTIVITIES-changing frequency to Ground Control after landing, switching the transponder to standby, or waiting till clearing the runway to locate the airport diagram. Some of these activities can also be called “vertigo traps” leading to Spatial Disorientation.

LOSS OF SITUATIONAL AWARENESS or… “Looking at our surroundings through a straw” STRATEGY - Keep the “BIG” picture SCAN – look out the windows STORY: LAHSO operation at TPA HEAD-DOWN ACTIVITIES-changing frequency to Ground Control after landing, switching the transponder to standby, or waiting till clearing the runway to locate the airport diagram. Some of these activities can also be called “vertigo traps” leading to Spatial Disorientation.

LOSS OF SITUATIONAL AWARENESS STRATEGY – Continue to Scan even when reading a clearance / reading back a clearance or performing other duties STORY: LAHSO operation at TPA HEAD-DOWN ACTIVITIES-changing frequency to Ground Control after landing, switching the transponder to standby, or waiting till clearing the runway to locate the airport diagram. Some of these activities can also be called “vertigo traps” leading to Spatial Disorientation.

LOSS OF SITUATIONAL AWARENESS LUAW (Line up and Wait) = time for extra vigilance STRATEGY- Controller – Some type of memory jogger Pilot – Should wait no more than a minute in position without confirming TIPH with tower STORY: LAHSO operation at TPA HEAD-DOWN ACTIVITIES-changing frequency to Ground Control after landing, switching the transponder to standby, or waiting till clearing the runway to locate the airport diagram. Some of these activities can also be called “vertigo traps” leading to Spatial Disorientation.

PILOTS AND CONTROLLERS Know who is who! Know who is where! Here is another lost cost system that does not require any special acft equipage and is being tested in California. As an ILS-equipped acft passes through a small zone, they receive a audible message over their marker beacon system.

CONTROLLER / PILOT MISUNDERSTANDING STRATEGY - Use your headset rather than the speaker and microphone Use standard phraseology (you might interject the “throat mike” story about Mr. Toothacher) Very frequently, pilots have begun their takeoff roll without and ATC clearance after given TIPH. It is not just pilots who use uncontrolled airports. Commercial operators are just as frequently guilty of this violation. A-B-C are not acceptable ATC activities or intentions; but these may occur intentionally or simply be a pilot perception. “Fast Talkers” The nature of the work Wounded pride OR Short Temper: Interfere with sound reasoning….the warrior syndrome LISTEN TO READBACKS

LAPSE IN SHORT-TERM/WORKING MEMORY STRATEGY – Keep tower cab / cockpit free of distractions, whether your busy or not. Keep non-operational conversations to a minimum Short-term memory keeps information IF you think about it; otherwise, it is lost after about 20 seconds. The short-term memory retains 6-8 items under optimum conditions. Both indifference and distractions adversely affect this capacity. “not up for it” or “overload” will cause items—perhaps critical to safety—to be dropped. Excessive demands on the pilot’s attention can lead to “task saturation” Either get your ATC clearance before you taxi OR wait until you reach the run-up area. Don’t accept your ATC clearance while moving.

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 Short-term memory keeps information IF you think about it; otherwise, it is lost after about 20 seconds. The short-term memory retains 6-8 items under optimum conditions. Both indifference and distractions adversely affect this capacity. “not up for it” or “overload” will cause items—perhaps critical to safety—to be dropped. Excessive demands on the pilot’s attention can lead to “task saturation” Either get your ATC clearance before you taxi OR wait until you reach the run-up area. Don’t accept your ATC clearance while moving.

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