WASHINGTON - The Federal Aviation Administration told airlines Wednesday to step up vigilance at airports after a series of close calls on or near runways, Pete Muntean reports for CNN. Continue reading original article.
The Military & Aerospace Electronics take:
23 March 2023 - "In recent months, a number of notable and high visibility events have occurred in the National Airspace System (NAS)," the FAA wrote in its Safty Alert for Operators (SAFO) bulletin released on Wednesday. "While the overall numbers do not reflect an increase in incidents and occurrences, the potential severity of these events is concerning. Six serious runway incursions have occurred since January 2023, including an incident at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City involving a taxiing aircraft narrowly avoiding a departing aircraft and a landing aircraft coming within 100 feet of a departing aircraft at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas."
The agency recommends the following to reduce such "close calls":
- Ensure pilots and flight attendants have the same understanding of what “sterile flight deck” means and the risks associated with extraneous communication during this time.
- Emphasize importance of awareness of the aircraft in relation to taxiways, runways and other aircraft.
- This includes reviewing the following previously published SAFOs:
17012, High Collision Risk During Runway Crossing
11004, Runway Incursion Prevention Actions
08001, Flight crew techniques and procedures to enhance taxi, pre-takeoff, and after landing safety to reduce the risk of runway incursions
- Encourage personnel to identify and report existing and emerging safety issues through voluntary reporting programs and understand the usefulness of voluntary reporting systems for the operation in which you are engaged.
- Reinforce adherence to published processes and procedures, including checklists, Air Traffic Control instructions, and internal company procedures.
- Ensure Safety Management Systems are accounting for the high rate of change and churn in industry.
The SAFO can be read by clicking here.
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Jamie Whitney, Associate Editor
Military + Aerospace Electronics
