Runway Incursions

Runway Incursions

SFTY 409

Phillip Reed
Runway Incursions

The definition of a runway incursions is any occurrence at an aerodrome involving the

incorrect presence of an aircraft, vehicle or person on the protected area of a surface designated

for the landing and take off of aircraft (Runway Incursions, 2020). Runway incursions are broken

down into four (4) different categories and accidents. They increase in severity from category 1-

4 and then there is an accident. The FAA has decided that it is important to track runway

incursions because there is beginning to be more and more air traffic even though the national

airspace system is already at capacity.

The different categories of runway incursions are as follows: Category 1 is Incident that

meets the definition of runway incursion such as incorrect presence of a single

vehicle/person/aircraft on the protected area of a surface designated for the landing and take-off

of aircraft but with no immediate safety consequence (Runway Incursions, 2020). A category 1

incursions could be as simple as a truck on a runway without permission, even though there was

no threat of an accident. A category 2 incursion is similar to a category one except there is

somewhat of a threat of an accident but with ample time for people involved to react. A category

3 incursion is when a collision is imminent but avoided. The severity of the incursions goes up in

cat 3. In category 4, a collision is narrowly avoided but would have resulted in a catastrophic

event.

There are several factors that contribute to the frequency of runway incursions. An

example of an incursion is when a flight crew lands at an unfamiliar airport and takes the wrong

exit off of the runway. There would be the potential for this incident to cause an accident.

Weather, ATC, ground personnel, ATC phraseology, simultaneous runways in use, and more are

all examples of factors that contribute to runway incursions.

Runway Incursions

To help lessen the frequency of runway incursions, the FAA published DOC 9870 which is

titled “Manual on the Prevention of Runway Incursions.” This manual outline what runway

incursions are and how to prevent them. An important part of this outline is the training of

personnel called the runway safety team. The primary role of a local runway safety team, which

may be coordinated by a central authority, should be to develop an action plan for runway safety,

advise management as appropriate on potential runway incursion issues and recommend

strategies for hazard removal and mitigation of the residual risk (Manual on the Prevention of

Runway Incursions DOC 9870). Not only is there a need for these runway safety teams, pilots

also need to be aware and conduct careful planning so they are not involved in any type of

runway incursion.

Runway Incursions. (2020, August 18). Retrieved January 19, 2021, from
https://www.faa.gov/airports/runway_safety/resources/runway_incursions/

Manual on the Prevention of Runway Incursions DOC 9870 [PDF]. (n.d.). ICAO.