FAA Releases Runway Incursion Risk Categories

WASHINGTON - As part of an ongoing effort to increase runway
safety and target safety resources, the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) has established four risk categories to
capture the severity of runway incursions. A new report that
analyzed the 1,369 runway incursions reported from 1997 through
2000 shows that 81 percent of the incursions fell into the two
lowest risk categories.

The report found that the number of high-risk incursions leveled
off during the four-year period, but total incursions rose as the
number of less severe incidents increased.

"Reducing runway incursions is one of our highest priorities," said
FAA Administrator Jane F. Garvey. "For the first time we have
classified incursions by risk. This allows us to target resources
and solutions to help turn the tide on runway incursions."

Working with members of the aviation community, the FAA has
installed new runway safety technology, has stepped up training,
education and awareness, and has improved airport markings and
lighting to help reduce incursions at airports around the country.
The new data will help the agency focus runway safety resources
in areas where they are most needed.

Between 1997 and 2000, there were 266 million takeoffs and
landings at U.S. towered airports. The 1,369 incursions that
occurred during that period were distributed among 297 of the 459
airports that have control towers. The remaining 152 airports had
no incursions.

A team of aviation experts reconstructed, analyzed, and placed
each incursion into four categories of increasing risk. Category D
incursions represent little or no risk; category C incursions provide
plenty of time and distance to avoid a potential collision; a
significant potential for collision exists in category B; and in the
most severe category, A, the margin of safety is so low that a
collision is barely avoided.

Over the four years, 7 percent of the incidents fell into the most
serious category, another 12 percent were potentially serious, 35
percent allowed time to avoid a collision, and the remaining 46
percent represented little or no risk.

In doing the analysis, team members from diverse aviation
backgrounds considered variables such as aircraft types, human
performance, airport characteristics and environmental factors.

Improved runway incursion data collection and reporting practices
will focus on why the incursion took place, so the aviation
community can find the right solution for the problem.

The report also concluded that:

- Based on their proportion of total takeoffs and landings, no
single aircraft operation type (commercial, general aviation,
military) accounts for a significantly greater proportion of runway
incursions.

- Airport volume alone is not a reliable indicator of runway
incursion trends, but the 32 busiest airports accounted for 37
percent of the high-risk (category A and B) incursions.

-The most common type of incursion involved two general
aviation aircraft and fell into the two lower-risk categories.

- Taking steps to reduce category C and D incursions also may
prevent higher-risk incursions.

- Because the cause of runway incursions may involve a mix of
aircraft types, airport layout and procedures, a measure of airport
complexity should be developed to better identify what causes
incursions.