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