Airport Seminar - Federal Aviation Administration

By: Mike Brown

Senior Representative- Brazil

FIESP 2011Airport Seminar

Federal Aviation Administration

Office International Aviation

Federal AviationAdministration

FIESP 2011 2Federal AviationAdministration

High-speed operations with little margin for error

Minimal separation and rapid pace

Complex environment

Low visibility in poor weather

Combination of Factors Minimizes Safety Margin

The Challenge We Face


System Overview

To illustrate the point-

JFK- 1068 airport operations per day

ORD- 2410 airport operations per day

LAX- 1615 airport operations per day

ATL- 2644 airport operations per day

Numbers taken at random from a week in March, 2011


System Overview

The U.S. air transportation system contains-

Over 20,000 landing facilities

Over 5,000 public use airports

562 airports certificated by the FAA

Discussions of system capacity cannot be limited to the en route and terminal environment.


Increasing Capacity

It means more than improving efficiency and expanding our infrastructure-

It means making our current environment as safe as possible;

It means looking for opportunities to improve safety while increasing our capacity;

It means viewing the airport environment as a critical part of the overall air traffic system.


Engineering Solutions to Capacityand

Safety


Airfield Design and Configuration

The basic runway and taxiway configurations at many US airports were constructed prior to the modern jet age. Since that time, the volume, speed, and complexity of air traffic have all grown, contributing to the risk of runway incursions.



What can be done?

Avoid layouts that include complex intersections;

Avoid layouts that include closely spaced parallel runways;

Avoid layouts that require aircraft and vehicles to cross runways;



What can be done?

Avoid layouts that require aircraft taxiing for takeoff to cross the active runway at an intermediate point to reach the approach end of the active runway;

Avoid layouts that will result in aircraft taxiing or back taxiing on runways.


Addressing Flight Crew Performance to Eliminate Pilot Deviations


Addressing Flight Crew Issues

Problem: Pilots fail to hold short after acknowledging hold short instructions.

Install a hold position sign on the right side of the taxiway;

Paint a hold position sign on the pavement surface;

Install runway guard light.

Solutions:



Problem: Pilots fail to turn as instructed or make a wrong turn.

Use a 12-inch-wide centerline outlined in black to delineate the preferred route;

Paint direction and/or location signs on the pavement surface

Provide charting materials that help identify “hot spots.”

Solutions:



Problem: Pilots land on the parallel taxiway rather that the runways.

Install Runway End Identifier Lights at the end of the runway;

Construct an asphalt blast pad with yellow chevrons at the beginning of the runway;

Install approach light systems for the runway.

Solutions:


Addressing Vehicle and Pedestrian Impact on Runway Incursions


Addressing Vehicle/Pedestrian Deviations

Airport rules and regulations pertaining to vehicle operations;

Areas where they are authorized to drive;

Location of perimeter roads;

Boundaries of movement and non-movement area;

Airport layout, including the designation of runways and taxiways.

Driver training:



Meaning of airfield signage and markings;

Proper radio phraseology, procedures, and frequencies;

Meaning of light gun signals;

Traffic patterns associated with each runway;

Right of way rules;

Accident/incident reporting requirements.

Driver training:



Initial and recurrent driver training is required by the FAA as part of the airport certification program;

The FAA reviews and audits training programs to ensure the content meets regulatory requirements;

Airports are subject to civil penalty if training is not completed and accurate records are not kept.

Driver training:


VPDs - Types of Vehicles

POV, 21, 13%

Construction Vehicle, 12, 8%

Emergency Vehicle, 15, 9%

FBO Vehicle, 5, 3%

Unspecified Vehicle, 34, 21%

Tug/Tow Vehicle, 9, 6%

Other, 12, 8%

Airport Vehicles, 51, 32%


Finding Technical Solutions to Reducing Runway Incursions


Airport MarkingsEnhanced Taxiway Centerline

http://www.faa.gov/airports_airtraffic/airports/airport_safety/signs_marking/

The enhanced taxiway centerline marking begins 150 feet prior to holding position markings and must be installed at all holding positions for runways on the entire airport.


Runway Status Lights (RWSL) RWSL to be installed at 22 ASDE-X airports

Takeoff Hold Lights (THLs)Runway Entrance Lights (RELs)


Alternating Yellow and

Green

•

Old Standard New Standard

•

RWSL – Runway Entrance Lights (RELs)


Alternating Yellow and

Green

•

Old Standard New Standard

•

RWSL – Take-Off Hold Lights (THLs)


Runway Incursion Reduction Goal

By 2013, reduce runway incursions by 10%


Making the Airport Environment Safer


Winter Operations


Snow Ops Cert Alert - Excursions

Greater awareness – Communication

Accurate and timely assessment of conditions

Communication to flight crews

Agreed upon action thresholds


RSA Improvement Program: Progress

RSA Improvements:

COSTS

2000 - 2008327

2009 - 2015130

2000 - 2007$240 MILLION / yr

2007 - 2015$1.2 BILLION

GOAL454


EMAS Installations

Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport, LA Roanoke Regional Airport, WV

Little Rock Airport, AR Greater Binghamton Airport, NYPhotos Courtesy of ESCO


Successful EMAS Capture

EMAS capture of a Falcon 900 at Greenville Downtown Airport, SC July 17, 2006


In conclusion

Lessons we’ve applied in the US:

The performance of the airport system is every bit as important to capacity as radar and air traffic services;

The more performance we try to “wring” out of our system, the smaller the safety margins become;

Achieving the desired level of safety is possible, but it requires a multidisciplinary approach and a commitment from both regulator and user.


For questions, contact- Mike Brown

[email protected]

Thank you for your time

Documents

Airport Seminar - Federal Aviation Administration