The Air Traffic controller’s Perspective on Runway Incursion Hazards and Mitigation Options

The Air Traffic controller’s Perspective on  Runway Incursion Hazards and Mitigation Options.

Communication Hazards.

• Unclear communication from the pilot to the ATC
• Ambiguous communication
• Lack of standard phraseology, including: speed of delivery, accents, # of instructions per transmission
• Low level of aviation language proficiency
• Frequency congestion
• Call sign confusion
• Read back errors
• Assumption that flight crews and airport personnel have certain familiarity with airport
• Simultaneous communication required for coordination between local, ground and radar controllers
• Multiple tower / ground frequencies becoming commonplace at many large airports
• Instances where 1 controller is responsible for traffic on multiple frequencies

Communication Mitigation

• Provide awareness and refresher training, that includes
  • Situations requiring mandatory read back
  • Ensuring what is said or heard is really what is said or heard not what you or the pilot expected to hear
  • Clarifying/avoiding similar sounding call-signs
  • Not assuming that pilots are familiar with local operations
• Establish outreach programs that include
  • Providing runway safety materials to foster collaboration
  • Encouraging the use of standard phraseology between controllers and pilots
  • Airfield vehicular tours to familiarize controllers with aerodrome signage, markings and taxiway/runway layout from a pilot’s perspective
• Minimize single controller communication coordination between local, ground and radar controllers
• Manage the use of multiple tower / ground frequencies
• Minimize the occurrences where 1 controller is responsible for traffic on multiple frequencies

Construction Hazards

Hazards appear when part of the airport becomes non-operational

• Potential capacity constraints that increase controller workload
• Potential need to manage and coordinate increased number of runway crossings
• The more crossing possibilities, the higher the incursion risk
• Added vehicular traffic on runway and taxiway surfaces
• Possible increased use of intersection takeoffs
• Potential impact on RFF procedures.

Construction Mitigations

• Manage movement numbers during capacity constraints
• Manage and coordinate increased number of runway crossings
• Develop SOPs for use during airport works including
• Using intersection departures
• RFF procedures
• Providing information to pilots on available runway lengths
• Develop memory aids to prevent departures and landings on closed or shortened runways

Airport Design Hazards

• Operations to closely spaced parallel runways
• Monitoring adherence to hold short clearances, particularly for high-speed turnoffs after landing
• Potential for separation issues related to runway confusion
• Simultaneous operations to intersecting runways
• Increased coordination required when multiple tower / ground frequencies are in use

Airport Design Mitigation

• Identify and publish hotspots
• Develop controller awareness of high risk areas
• Intersecting runway operations
• Land and Hold Short Operations
• Timing (when runway occupancy time is contrary to controller expectations)
• Runway Crossings.
• There is a correlation between the number of runway crossings and runway incursions consider increasing the use of end around taxiways.
• Blind spots/low visibility
• Reports clear of runway
• Use of Surface surveillance equipment including CCTV if needed
• Closely spaced parallel runways operations
• Monitoring adherence to hold short clearances, particularly for high-speed turnoffs after landing
• Awareness of separation issues related to runway confusion
• Simultaneous operations to intersecting runways
• Implement coordination procedures when multiple tower / ground frequencies are in use

 

Visibility Hazards

• Not only due to fog, but also glare/snow/ reflection/water/sand
• Certain movement areas are “blind spots” and are not visible from the control tower.

Visibility Mitigation

• Identify “blind spots” and their hazards
• Develop mitigation procedures
• Utilize low visibility procedures
• Manage traffic levels
• To maintain situation awareness
• To avoid frequency overload

 

Operational Hazards

• Hub” route networks create peaks in controller workload
• Managing contingencies related to:
• Runway / taxiway closures
• Inoperative approach aids
• Technical issues experienced by flight crews
• Weather phenomena
• Environmental factors:
• Distractions, false/nuisance alerts
• Sight lines
• Complex airport operations and configuration changes
• Traffic volume
• Shift work and fatigue-related performance effects
• Use of complex/non-standard taxi instructions
• Inadequate airport diagrams

Operational Mitigation

• Options to enhance situational awareness
• Implement CRM training
• Foster a culture of teamwork. Awareness of other controllers’ activities.
• Develop memory aids
• Visual indicators for runway closures, intersection departures, etc
• Position Relief Procedures and Checklists to highlight any high risk situations
• Staffing
• Provide adequate numbers to manage traffic surges
• Prevent split attention/multi-tasking particularly during periods of low-level traffic
• Re-Current training
• Focus on local operations and runway safety issues
• Tower cab & equipment configuration
• Perform human factors assessment of cab environment
• Foster a Safety Culture
• Implement SMS

 

Signage

• Report unserviceable signage
• Advise flight crews of unserviceable signage
• Amend affected procedures when signage is unserviceable