By: Mike Brown
Senior Representative- Brazil
FIESP 2011Airport Seminar
Federal Aviation Administration
Office International Aviation
Federal AviationAdministration
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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
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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
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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.
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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.
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Engineering Solutions to Capacityand
Safety
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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.
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Airfield Design and Configuration
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;
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Airfield Design and Configuration
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.
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Addressing Flight Crew Performance to Eliminate Pilot Deviations
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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:
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Addressing Flight Crew Issues
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:
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Addressing Flight Crew Issues
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:
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Addressing Vehicle and Pedestrian Impact on Runway Incursions
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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:
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Addressing Vehicle/Pedestrian Deviations
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:
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Addressing Vehicle/Pedestrian Deviations
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:
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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%
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Finding Technical Solutions to Reducing Runway Incursions
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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.
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Runway Status Lights (RWSL) RWSL to be installed at 22 ASDE-X airports
Takeoff Hold Lights (THLs)Runway Entrance Lights (RELs)
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Alternating Yellow and
Green
•
Old Standard New Standard
•
RWSL – Runway Entrance Lights (RELs)
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Alternating Yellow and
Green
•
Old Standard New Standard
•
RWSL – Take-Off Hold Lights (THLs)
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Runway Incursion Reduction Goal
By 2013, reduce runway incursions by 10%
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Making the Airport Environment Safer
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Winter Operations
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Snow Ops Cert Alert - Excursions
Greater awareness – Communication
Accurate and timely assessment of conditions
Communication to flight crews
Agreed upon action thresholds
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RSA Improvement Program: Progress
RSA Improvements:
COSTS
2000 - 2008327
2009 - 2015130
2000 - 2007$240 MILLION / yr
2007 - 2015$1.2 BILLION
GOAL454
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EMAS Installations
Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport, LA Roanoke Regional Airport, WV
Little Rock Airport, AR Greater Binghamton Airport, NYPhotos Courtesy of ESCO
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Successful EMAS Capture
EMAS capture of a Falcon 900 at Greenville Downtown Airport, SC July 17, 2006
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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.
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For questions, contact- Mike Brown
Thank you for your time