Runway Incursions in Canada

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Runway Incursions in Canada
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Outline

• Background
• Definition
• Methodology
• Findings
• Contributing Factors
• Recommendations
• Incursion Prevention Action Team (IPAT)

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Background

• 1999 TC and NC noted an increase in runway
  incursions
• TC commissioned study to identify causal factors
  and make recommendations and
• NC commissioned parallel study at sites with ATS
  facilities

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Definition
Any occurrence at an airport involving the
unauthorized or unplanned presence of an
aircraft, vehicle or person on the protected area
of a surface designated for aircraft landings and
departures.
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Methodology

• Risk Assessment
• Refine definition
• Participated in NC-organized stakeholder
  meetings
• RI occurrence data extracted from NC, TC and TSB
  sources and analyzed using Weighted Aggregate
  Risk formula
• Literature search
• Participated on expert panel preventive
  strategies

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Findings
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Conclusions

• Unable to find any single factor or combination
  of factors that have changed so radically as to
  account for such an increase in incursions since
  1996

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Contributing Factors

• Traffic Volume
• Capacity-enhancing Procedures
• Airport Layouts
• Complexity
• Human Factors

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Traffic Volume v RI Potential
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Capacity-enhancing Procedures v RI Potential
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Airport Layouts

• Inconsistent standards
• Ground movement safety systems
• Standard Taxi routes and improved access to
  airport diagrams

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Complexity

• Combined influence of traffic volume,
  capacity-enhancing procedures, airport layouts is
  greater than the sum of its constituent parts
• Second order effects reduced visibility,
  unfamiliarity, momentary distraction could
  produce final link leading to an accident

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Causal Factors (1997-1999)
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Recommendations

• 23 Recommendations
• Regulatory initiatives
• Further evaluation and research
• Awareness and education

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Regulatory initiatives

• Aerodrome signage, lighting and marking
• Procedures for access and control of vehicles at
  airports
• Visibility of hold lines
• Land and Hold Short Operations (LAHSO)
• Training standards for pilots of air operators

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Further evaluation and research

• Better monitoring
• Enhanced collection/analysis of incursion data
• Investigate all incursions and
• Develop preventive measures based on analysis.

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Awareness and Education

• Articles in aviation safety periodicals
• Posters (in production)
• Presentations at Regional Aviation Safety
  Councils
• Other promotional items (e.g. pamphlets, video,
  etc.)
• Aerodrome Safety Circular on runway incursion
  initiatives will be released shortly.

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NAV CANADA Initiatives

• Amended procedures for controller/pilot/vehicle
  communications
• Installation of Converging Runway Display Aid
  (CRDA) equipment at Calgary and
• Installation of Airport surface Detection
  Equipment (ASDE) at airports such as Toronto.

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Recommendations

• 27 recommendations in Final report
• Many are similar to the Transport Canada
  recommendations.
• NAV CANADA Action Plan developed to address all
  recommendations.

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Recommendations (cont.)

• NC Action Plan to address 10 areas of concern
  Policy, Procedures, Training, Awareness,
  Communication/ Co-ordination, Monitoring,
  Database, Equipment, Diagrams and Other.
• Many areas require joint implementation with
  Transport Canada.

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Incursion Prevention Action Team (IPAT)

• Joint NC/TC team task with oversight on
  implementation of all recommendations
• Meets quarterly reports to Senior Management