Aviation Safety Course

Topic 9
“Medium” Factors:
ATC and Airports

The Aircraft Operating Environment

Aircraft have their own “machine factors” relating to safety, but aircraft also operate in two key
manmade environments:
Airspace under air traffic control (ATC)
Airports
ATC and airports each present a set of hazards and safety aids for flight.
We need to understand the potential hazards and technological aspects of each.

ATC and Navaid

Safety Enhancements
Most ATC/Navaid enhancements are “broad-in-purpose:”
Flight efficiency
Capacity enhancement
Cost reduction
Safety
“Legacy” navaids and airspace management
Newer generation technologies:
RNAV
GPS and WAAS
Consequences:
Increased situational awareness
Increased alternatives

Common Airspace Hazards

Issues:
Inadequate Navaid coverage (altitude & area)
Operational errors by pilot or ATC
Ground vehicle errors
Inadequate communications coverage
Enroute separation (altitude and distance)
“Lost” aircraft/inadequate aeronautical information
Emergency action alternatives
Responses:
Satellite-based communications
Global Positioning System (GPS)
WAAS

Common Airport Hazards & Responses: Runway Incursions

Contributing factors:
Complicated airports & confusing signs & markings
Operational errors by pilot or ATC
Ground vehicle errors
Safety enhancements
 Improved airport signage and lighting
E-maps of airport in cockpits (EFB)
Airport surface detection equipment (ADS-X)
Airport surface monitoring equipment (ADS-B, LCGS)
Improved training and awareness

Common Airport Hazards &

Responses: Foreign Object Damage
Foreign object debris sources:
Pavement deterioration
Objects disturbed by airport maintenance
Objects dropped from airport vehicles
Storm deposited items
Miscellaneous “trash” around terminals
Tools and personal items of airside workers
Safety responses:
Movement area inspections
Education of airport personnel
Designated vehicle routes
Inspection/restriction of vehicles and loads

Little FOD

Big FOD!

Concorde’s Death…The Result of FOD

Common Airport Hazards &
Responses: Wildlife Collisions
The “offenders:”
Birds (on ground and in-flight)
Terrestrial animal strikes:
Domestic animals
Feral animals
Wild animals
Safety responses:
Wildlife hazard studies
Wildlife hazard management programs
Special observation and reporting of events
Special inspections and data collection
Bird radar detection systems
NOTAMs

FOD Control Measures

Common Airport Hazards &

Responses: Taxiing Hazards
Hazardous situations/conditions:
Wingtip clearances from aircraft and structures
Maintenance and construction sites
Remaining on full strength surfaces
Jet/prop blast
Safety responses:
Proper airport layout and marking
Use of “wing-walkers” in confined areas
Attention to surroundings and vulnerabilities
Airport/airline policies on engine operations

Common Airport Hazards &

Responses: Ground Equipment
Typical “offenders:”
Mobile fueling trucks
Ground servicing equipment
Boarding bridges
Passenger transporters
Safety responses:
Driver training programs
Proper airport layout and marking
Proper GSE parking/storage positions
Use of wing-walkers/gate supervisors
Electronic airplane and bridge guidance technologies

Passenger Transporter Attacks Airplane

Common Airport Hazards &

Responses

Common Airport Hazards &

Responses: Natural Hazards
Runway surface conditions:
Snow or ice contamination
Heavy rainfall
Standing water
Safety responses:
Airport runway inspections and condition reports
Snow and ice control programs
Attention to runway design and maintenance
“Grooving” of runways for turbine powered airplanes
Use of pavement friction testers
Runway “braking action” reports

One Result of Snow and Ice on Runways

Common Airport Hazards &
Responses: Maintenance Hazards
Poor condition of paved and unpaved surfaces:
Wearing surface integrity
Cracking and potholes
Depressions/uneven surfaces
Shoulder and edge lip erosion
Fading/wearing of markings
Improperly/inadequately marked/lighted areas
Excessive rubber accumulations in touchdown zones
Inoperative lighting elements
Improperly marked/lighted construction/maintenance
Responses:
Pilot reports
Standards and inspections
Intensive and funded maintenance program

Common Airport Hazards &

Responses: Ramp Mishaps
Ramp mishaps:
Ground equipment collisions (previously discussed)
Fuel spills/fuel hazards
Personnel injury/death
Turbine injestion/prop strike
Falling
Crushing
Safety responses:
Training
Supervision
Communications