Runway Safety News

Runway Safety News

Here is where you will find news forwarded to us by professional Runway Safety experts. Be sure to also reference the SoCal Airports page for location specific news, and the INFO Warehouse Page that also may have Runway Safety Tips and Safety Information in general.

 

                                          From the Flight Deck

FAA's From the Flight Deck video series provides pilots with actual runway approach and airport taxiway footage captured with cockpit mounted cameras, combined with diagrams and visual graphics to clearly identify hot spots and other safety-sensitive items.
View the map below for From the Flight Deck videos and links to location-specific safety information. New locations will be added to the map as videos become available.

Click on the map link picture below to view a variety of Runway Safety Videos and Airport News columns.  

 

NEW WRONG SURFACE AVOIDANCE VIDEOS - from FAA RUNWAY SAFETY

From the Flight Deck - Lincoln, NE (LNK)    Click HERE

From the Flight Deck - Kansas City, MO (MKC)   Click HERE

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Runway Safety Professionals:  Check out the latest LRSAT schedule on SCAUWG.ORG   Click HERE

 

Incursions - FAA FACT SHEET -   Runway incursions continue to occur at the rate of more than 1,200 per year — that averages more three a day! Because incursions have the potential to cause serious accidents, their prevention continues to be a focus of FAA and the FAA Safety Team (FAASTeam). Let’s have a look at some tips and best practices that can help you avoid incursions and improve your overall runway safety. Read it HERE

 

Slowing and Stopping - RUNWAY SAFETY INFO - "The typical personal airplane has busy brakes, which can make some landings more exciting than they need to be. It's best to slow down sooner rather than later. - That’s the last time I remember being even close to running out of runway on landing. I learned a few lessons that night, which have helped keep me out of the weeds since,..." "One of the things I learned is that planning to come to a stop after landing begins well before touching down." Webmaster: This is a nifty look at addressing runway safety in a nutshell, might well point you in the right direction toward a decision to focus more on this important safety topic. Read it Here.

 

 

NEWS Follows:

04/01/2024   Grand Canyon National Park Airport (KGCN) is a small single runway airport located near the southeast rim of the Grand Canyon in Arizona. - The Grand Canyon National Park Airport (GCN) now has its very own pilot handbook! https://www.faa.gov/gcn

Now when you visit the FAA’s From the Flight Deck (FTFD) website you will see the GCN Airport icon has been changed from green to yellow; this indicates that GCN now has a FTFD Video and Handbook. Scroll to the bottom to expand all sections of the handbook. There is also a link to download and print from PDF: https://www.faa.gov/flight_deck/pilot_info/gcn.pdf.

The purpose of the handbook is to provide information from local air traffic controllers directly to the pilots.

Please share this link: https://www.faa.gov/gcn, and spread the word as wide as possible. Share with all FBOs and users at GCN, as well as those at neighboring airports and states that may have pilots that occasionally visit GCN.  Got a master tenant email list?  Send it to all.  Got an Instagram page?  Does the airport’s website have a pilot info page?  Consider posting a link on your organization’s site.  Request to have it added to the current available material.  The wider the net…the bigger the catch.

03/19/2024   FAA Introduces New Technology To Enhance Airport Surface Safety Nationwide - From AVweb - "On Thursday, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced the implementation of a new surface safety tool that warns air traffic controllers when an approaching aircraft is not lined up on its assigned runway. - The FAA outlined plans to deploy Approach Runway Verification (ARV) technology at several airports across the U.S. this year through 2025, with Austin Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) the latest to adopt the solution. - “A safe National Airspace System begins and..."   Continue Here.

03/04/2024  Paso Robles Municipal Airport in California is poised to begin a three-week runway rehabilitation project that entails filling in cracks, removing residual rubber and repainting surface markings. Ninety percent of the nearly $600 million undertaking will be funded by a federal grant, with the rest to come from the Airport Enterprise Fund. - Full Story: KSBY-TV (San Luis Obispo, Calif.) (3/1)

11/14/2023   FAA Names Next 16 Airports to Host Runway Safety Action Team Meetings - "The continuing safety program is designed to identify and eliminate risks on and around airport runways. - As part of a continuing program to address risks to runway safety, the FAA has named 16 airports where it plans to conduct meetings with its Runway Safety Action Team between now and the end of the year. The agency has so far conducted 90 such meetings across the country this year.

The meetings, which the FAA hosts annually at towered airports, serve as forums for identifying risks on and around runways that are specific to each airport. The sessions help stakeholders develop runway safety action plans and form agreements to pursue actions aimed at improving safety. Full Article Here.

11/14/2023   Las Vegas Harry Reid Airport Runway Lighting Reminder - Notice Number: NOTC3287 - Notice:  Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) does NOT have runway centerline lighting on any of the runways.  Improper aircraft alignment on the runway edge line and/or lighting on departure can result in costly damage to your airplane and to airport lighting system.  A series of recent nighttime operational incidents has prompted this message.  Kindly adhere to the designated markings in accordance with regulatory standards.  Departing with aircraft damage is unsafe and contrary to regulations; and can contribute to an accident or incident.

https://www.faasafety.gov/files/notices/2023/Nov/LAS_Notice.pdf

POC: Natacha Nazario, ACE, Airport Operations Coordinator at Harry Reid Int'l Airport/Clark County NV - (702)261-5607    Natachan@LASAirport.com

11/13/20231   Senate Committee Probes Runway Safety - From AVweb - "...lawmakers and aviation experts gathered for a hearing to address a series of aviation incidents that have raised concerns about the FAA’s air traffic control arm and overall safety. - The Nov. 9 hearing included testimony from National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy, FAA Air Traffic Organization Chief Operating Officer Tim Arel, National Air Traffic Controller Association President Rich Santa, Air Line Pilots Association Capt. Jason Ambrosi, and former FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt. "  Finish reading Here.

1/11/2023   As Senate Committee Reviews Aviation Safety, NBAA Unveils Runway-Focused Working Group - PR From NBAA - "Contact: Dan Hubbard, 202-431-5970, dhubbard@nbaa.org -Washington, DC, Nov. 9, 2023 – In written testimony submitted as part of a Senate hearing today, National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) President and CEO Ed Bolen noted the business aviation community’s longstanding, comprehensive approach to aviation safety, and pointed to a new, dedicated NBAA working group focused specifically on runway and surface incidents.

“We are pleased to announce that NBAA is standing up a Runway and Surface Safety Working Group that will bring experts together across our committees, and across the industry, to address recent runway incidents and incursions,” said Bolen. The formation of the group is intended to build upon decades of experience acquired from the work of NBAA, its committees and the association’s broader membership, in concert with government agencies and experts across several professions, to maintain a holistic focus on aviation safety.

Bolen’s testimony was offered as part of the hearing, held by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation’s Subcommittee on Aviation Safety, Operations and Innovation. The hearing was titled, “Addressing Close Calls to Improve Aviation Safety.”

Review Bolen’s full testimony provided to the subcommittee.

NBAA’s new Runway and Surface Safety Group adds to the cross-disciplinary approach the association and its members have long taken to glean underlying causes from accidents and apply the learnings to future accident avoidance. The working group will include representation from several standing NBAA committees.

The work to apply real-world scenarios and data toward safety enhancements has resulted in the production of a host of NBAA tools that serve as authoritative sources on matters ranging from inflight safety, to hangar and ground safety, to human factors and other key elements in the aviation-safety equation.

The association also produces a list of Top Safety Focus Areas on a biennial basis and administers a Business Aviation Safety Manager Certificate Program to operators demonstrating leadership in safety best practices on the ground and in the air.

In his testimony, Bolen commended government leaders with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) and other stakeholder organizations to support an industry-wide focus on safety vigilance.

“Since NBAA was founded in 1947, we have been intentional in developing partnerships with government leaders and other stakeholders” in prioritizing safety, Bolen said. “NBAA will continue to engage with our members and other stakeholders to continually improve aviation safety.”

09/28/2023   Complex operating environments, distractions, workforce turnover, and complacency may lead to runway incursions. Comprehensive, site-specific driver training and operational procedures can mitigate these factors. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) provides best practices and training supplements to support airport operators and airfield drivers while promoting safe operations.

The FAA Website has posted new information on proper phraseology for crossing or proceeding onto runways. Airport operators are encouraged to review the information, share it with airport drivers, and supplement existing driver training programs. 

Information includes:

• Phraseology discussion on accepting "Proceed" for accessing or crossing the runway as a vehicle operator. 
• "Stay Away If You Don't Hear Runway" training supplement

Information for airport operators and vehicle drivers is available on the FAA website at: https://www.faa.gov/airports/runway_safety/airfield_drivers 

Respectfully,

Birke Rhodes, Manager, Airport Safety and Operations Division, AAS-300, FAA Office of Airports

11/11/2023   Tucson Airport Changes - Two-year Extensive Program - Get the INFO HERE.

09/28/2023   The following documents were signed by AFX-1 and are published:

• Order 8000.94B, Procedures for Acceptance or Review of Low Visibility Operations/Surface Movement Guidance and Control Systems (LVO/SMGCS)
• AC 120-57C, Low Visibility Operations/Surface Movement Guidance and Control Systems (LVO/SMGCS)

09/27/2023   White House Announces $201 Million Airport Lighting Upgrade Program - "The White House announced today (Sept. 26) that more than $201 million will go to new or reconstructed runway and taxiway lighting systems as part of the administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. During an event marking the new program at Denver International Airport, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said, “We’re acting to improve lighting systems at 82 airports, an important part of keeping aircraft moving safely, no matter the time of day or weather.”  LAX and ONT Benefit - Full Story Here.

08/22/2023   WASHINGTON — The Federal Aviation Administration will hold runway safety meetings at approximately 90 airports between now and the end of September.

“Sharing information is critical to improving safety,” said Tim Arel, chief operating officer of the FAA’s Air Traffic Organization. “These meetings, along with other efforts, will help us achieve our goal of zero close calls.”

08/14/2023   Citation Overflies 737 On Runway At San Diego - "The FAA is investigating a runway incursion at San Diego Airport involving a Citation that overflew a Southwest aircraft just after noon on Friday. The FAA says the Citation was cleared to land after the 737 had moved onto the runway to line up and wait. Reuters said the Citation cleared the Southwest plane by about 100 feet, surface detection equipment...."   Continue Here.

07/13/2023   ForeFlight Adds ‘Runway Alert’ Deconfliction Feature - From AVweb - "...runway incursions, now there’s an app for that. The latest ForeFlight release includes a feature that warns the crew of an aircraft on final approach if there’s an airplane on the runway to which they are headed. It also warns the crew of the airplane on the runway that another one is headed their way. Aircraft have to be connected to an ADS-B or FLARM receiver for the Airplane on Runway Alert feature to work. - Last winter saw an uptick in potentially serious incursions in which aircraft were cleared to take off and land on the same runway at roughly the same time. In one case..."  Finish reading Here.

07/10/2023   DOT Watchdog Agency to Audit FAA Safety Protocols - The OIG will review the aviation agency’s methodology for data analysis, risk identification, and measures to mitigate runway incursions. - "A U.S. government watchdog agency will audit the FAA’s efforts to prevent runway incursions following a string of close calls at some airports in recent months.

On July 6, the Transportation Department’s (DOT) Office of Inspector General (OIG) announced its intent to review the FAA’s methodology for data analysis, risk identification, and measures to mitigate runway incursions.

The audit comes as the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating six incursion events since the beginning of the year. While the number of runway incursions has remained relatively stable, the industry has seen an increase in the most serious ones in which disaster was narrowly avoided.   More Here.

03/24/2023   Critical Runway Lighting Upgrades Key to Electrical Improvements Planned at Long Beach Airport - Temporary Runway Closures Planned - Due to the safety setback requirements of the construction work, there will be temporary runway closures between March 29 and mid-July: Runway 12-30 will be CLOSED NIGHTLY, Sundays through Thursdays, from March 29 to mid-July. In addition, Runway 12-30 will be CLOSED DAILY, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, from April 18 to May 24. - info Here.

03/13/2023   New Radar Software Protects Against Taxiway Landings - FAA TAXIWAY NEWS - AINonline - "Wrong-surface landings are one of the FAA’s top-five safety hazards, and to help mitigate the threat of pilots lining up to land on taxiways the agency has completed its enhancement of ground radar systems at 43 airports with an ASDE-X Taxiway Arrival Prediction (ATAP) upgrade. These airports already had either ASDE-X or similar ASSC ground radar systems. The ATAP software analyzes the flight paths of arriving aircraft and anticipates..."  Learn more here.

03/09/2023   MARCH 22 EVENT! -  FROM THE FLIGHT DECK - A GA PILOT WORKSHOP - The FAA invites General Aviation pilots to join this Spring workshop so everyone feels prepared to take to the skies after spending time away from the flight deck. The event will cover surface safety and operational concerns associated with General Aviation. WINGS credit will be offered. March 22 @ 12:30 p.m. Eastern

During this event, FAA Acting Administrator Billy Nolen, Jamal Wilson, GA industry reps, pilots, air traffic controllers, labor, meteorologists and others will discuss safety and operational concerns associated with General Aviation. The workshop panels will remind pilots about runway procedures, provide information to preempt airfield errors, and ultimately focus on lowering the potential for accidents. Topics presented and discussed will include:

• Wrong Surface Risk and Mitigation
• Human Factors
• Markings, Signage and Lighting
• Nighttime Operations
• Preparing for Weather Challenges
• //And more

Watch on YouTube

Go to YouTube now to set a reminder notification. Live chat will be available.

Join Zoom Webinar for WINGS Credit

Use passcode 236113 to join only if you are requesting WINGS credit.

02/28/2023   Serious U.S. Airport Runway Incursions are Declining, FAA Says - From Flying - "FAA data shows a drop in ‘serious’ close calls over the last 20 years. - Despite a series of narrowly avoided accidents at U.S. airports in recent months, FAA data shows the most serious close calls have declined over the last 20 years.

According to the agency, serious close calls involve situations where a collision was “narrowly avoided” or in which there is “significant potential for a collision.” In 2022, there were 18 serious runway incursions in the U.S.—up from a low of five reported in 2010 but down from a high of 32 reported in 2007."  More Here.

02/15/2023  FAAST Blast – R.I.M 3038

This Notice describes the Harry Reid International Airport (KLAS) construction, a multiple-phase project. Taxiways F, E, D, W, and Y will be updated from incandescent to LED taxiway lights. This project will also include pavement rehabilitation for Taxiway high-speed Y. The project will be divided into 5 phases, during which multiple paved areas will be closed for specific periods. The approximate timeframe for Phase 3 completion is February 14th, 2023. Phase 2 that was the taxiway whiskey closure between Runways 19R and 19L is estimating to open on February 14^th, 2023.

This Notice is for Phase 3 starting on 2/14/23:

Phase 3A Effective February 14^th, Taxiway B between Runways 19L and 19R will be closed for approximately 60 days. Barricades are located on Taxiway E between Runway 26R and Taxiway W. The haul route for this phase will take north/southbound on Taxiway E from the APCH End of Runways 19L and 19R to the closed portion of the taxiway. Phase 3B, which includes the daily closure at night for Runway 19L, will commence on February 16th from 2200 until 0600L, Sunday night to Friday morning every week during this phase. NOTAMs associated with the construction and closures have been issued. Taxi instructions will be detailed and likely contain specific hold-short instructions to mitigate conflicts and lessen delays.

Pilots are reminded to write down complex taxi instructions and provide a complete read-back to ATC. If unfamiliar, pilots may request "Progressive Taxi Instructions."

See Attachment: 

01/27/2023    $4.6M runway rehab to begin next year at Neb. airport - From Freemont Tribune - "A runway rehabilitation project at Fremont Municipal Airport probably won’t take place until 2024. Members of the Fremont Municipal Airport’s advisory committee talked about the project during their recent meeting. The airport’s runway needs to have approximately 1,700 feet of the 5,400-foot pavement replaced. The project, which is still in the design phase, will involve tearing out concrete and replacing it." More Here.

01/24/2023   Mojave runway rehab is due to begin - From Valley Press - "The Mojave Air and Space Port in Mojave, Calif., will soon begin a project to rehabilitate the main runway, now that a $9.6 million contract with Granite Construction has been approved by the airport's board of directors. Construction, which is expected to take 68 days, will be primarily funded by Federal Aviation Administration grants." Read the News Here.

01/17/2023   The JFK Incursion Tragedy That Wasn’t - "The controller instructed AA Flight 106, the Boeing 777, to taxi out of their ramp area at Taxiway Tango Alpha with a left on Bravo, hold short of Taxiway Kilo. The first part of the controller’s instruction included 4L as the departure runway.  Although the copilot read back the taxi instructions and the requirement to hold short of Taxiway Kilo,..."  Continue.

 

01/17/2023    Close Call at JFK International Airport - The Boeing 737 and 777 came within 1,000 feet of a collision on the ground.  "The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating an incident at John F. Kennedy International Airport that happened Friday night when a Boeing 777 taxied in front of a departing Boeing 737-900. The 737 was operated by Delta Air Lines, the 777 by American Airlines. According to the FAA, air traffic controllers “noticed another aircraft crossing the runway in front of the departing jetliner” and canceled the aircraft’s takeoff clearance. - The statement continues, “Delta Air Lines Flight 1943 stopped..." Continue Here.

01/09/2023   Aftermath: Vectors to ZMB - The emergency was real, but the runway was only a memory. -  "The engine failure took place at approximately 0738:40 local time, a few seconds after the JFK Departure controller who had cleared 46C into the New York Class B handed the flight off to La Guardia Departure. At that moment, the Bonanza’s heading was 282 degrees, and it was making a 142-knot groundspeed against a headwind of 20 to 25 knots. - About 80 seconds after the engine failure, at 0739:58, the controller gave 46C a right turn to 360. At that point, the Bonanza had lost 1,000 feet in altitude and its groundspeed had slowed to 62 knots, circumstances that, oddly, did not elicit comment from the controller. The pilot only now revealed his situation:..."    A runway on the controller's radar contributed to a fatality. Read it Here.

12/20/2022   New Runway Safety Resources for California Pilots -  California Pilots:

The FAA's From the Flight Deck video series features videos for 20 airports throughout California, with more to come. This series uses aircraft mounted cameras to capture runway and taxiway footage and combines this with diagrams and visual graphics to clearly identify hot spots and other safety-sensitive items.

Find the airports you frequent in our video playlist of California airports, and share this resource with your fellow pilots. You can also help get the word out to your friends and family on social media using sample posts from our toolkit.

Learn more about the From the Flight Deck series, go to our video playlist of California airports, or browse videos of airports throughout the United States.

• Learn more about the From the Flight Deck Video series https://www.faa.gov/flight_deck
• Video Playlist of California Airports https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5vHkqHi51DRm7Nf36lcQyEJwPFu_TwXh
• Social Media Toolkit for California Pilots https://socialpresskit.com/fromtheflightdeck
• From the Flight Deck Video Playlist of airports throughout the U.S. https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5vHkqHi51DSNpsBC8nb8Q8gFcGVmWhGA

12/02/2022   Six Ways to Improve Your Ground Game - With an average of three runway incursions each day in the United States, along with the occasional change to taxi clearances and airport markings, it’s always a good idea to review airport surface operations and hold them in same regard as any other phase of flight. With that in mind, we’ve put together some tips that can help improve your ground game http://bit.ly/3AF8vc9. For more tips and best practices that help pilots avoid the “danger zones” where accidents can occur, check out the Nov/Dec 2022 FAA Safety Briefing here.

11/25/2022   Let it Snow: Airports Across U.S. Receive FAA Funding to Tackle Winter Weather - WASHINGTON – As winter approaches, 85 airports in 28 states will be better prepared to keep airport operations running safely and smoothly. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration has awarded more than $76.2 million in Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 for snowplows, de-icing equipment, and new or upgraded buildings to store this equipment.

“We can’t let winter weather stop aircraft from safely landing and taking off. This funding will help keep airports operating this winter and get passengers and cargo to their work, families and vacations safely,” said Associate Administrator for Airports Shannetta Griffin, P.E.

The funding is from the FAA’s Airport Improvement Program. The program pays for a variety of projects including construction of new and improved airport facilities, repairs to runways and taxiways, maintenance of airfield elements such as lighting or signage, and the purchase of equipment needed to operate and maintain airports.      IN CALIFORNIA: Mammoth Yosemite (Mammoth Yosemite) - Mammoth Lakes, California - Project Description: Construct/Rehabilitate/Modify/Expand Snow Removal Equipment Building - $936.625.

11/21/2022   DISASTROUS COURSE OF ACTION - A MERIDIAN LANDS ON THE WRONG RUNWAY - Mid Air Collision at North Las Vegas - AOPA Early Analysis - "People knew them as a friendly couple, a chatty team in the cockpit, with her often working the radios when he flew the left seat of their Piper Malibu Meridian. Inbound from the north, they were cleared to land Runway 30L, flew overhead the field, and began a fast, swooping, left 240-degree descending turn to final.

Meanwhile, on Runway 30R, an instructor worked out a pilot in a Cessna 172, executing multiple touch-and-go landings, staying in a right pattern. The 172 requested and was cleared a short approach for 30R. Pilots report this as typical operations for VGT: local pattern work on Runway 30R with transient operations on the longer Runway 30L.  VIDEO and STORY Here.

10/28/2022   Is This the Right Runway? - RUNWAY SAFETY INFO - From Flying - "Weather, fatigue, last-minute ATC requests and many more in-cockpit distractions can contribute to touching down in the wrong spot. - It was in the news: Noted actor and aviation proponent Harrison Ford, while arriving at an airport on the west coast, reportedly landed on a taxiway, not the assigned runway. Oops! Dissecting that event is not this article’s purpose. But it did get me to wonder: How often does this happen? Why does it happen? What can we as pilots do to minimize the opportunities for this type of event to happen to us?"  Read About it Here.

10/26/2022  "Surface Safety Symposium for General Aviation" - WEBINAR - Discuss Surface Safety and Operational Concerns Associated with General Aviation. On Monday, November 7, 2022 at 10:00 Eastern Standard Time (07:00 PST; 08:00 MST; 09:00 CST; 05:00 HST; 06:00 AKST; 08:00 Arizona; 15:00 GMT) - Description: During this event, FAA, pilots and industry experts will discuss safety and operational concerns associated with General Aviation with a focus on flight training.  Topics presented and discussed will include:

• Wrong Surface, Risk of Wrong Surface Alignments Presentation (to include both towered and non-towered)
• Wrong Surface, Risk of Wrong Surface Alignments Panel
• Surface Event Trends Presentation
• Prescribed Phraseology: Roger is not a Clearance Panel
• Surface Safety in Primary Flight Training Environment Organization Panel

To view further details and registration information for this webinar, click here.

10/07/2022  RUNWAY / COMPASS ROSE FACELIFT - Sonoma Skypark in California has completed a runway repair project that included filling cracks, seal coating the surface and repainting lines. In addition, a compass rose was painted on the runway by local Scout troops to help pilots with navigation, and the new design has "become a little bit of an attraction," said Darrel Jones, vice president of the airport's Experimental Aircraft Association chapter.

Full Story: The Sonoma Index-Tribune (Calif.)

09/02/2022   "The City of Porterville announced Friday it has been awarded $4.44 million in federal grant money to go toward the rehabilitation of the Porterville Municipal Airport taxiway. -  Awarded by the US Department of Transportation through the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Airport Improvement Program (AIP), the grant will pay for 90% of the project to rehabilitate the parallel taxiway."  Continue Here.

08/12/2022   From the Flight Deck Video Series Covers Complex Airfield Geometry - FAA - Every flight is different. Airfield conditions and pilot perspective are always changing. One of those conditions, if you are not aware and well prepared, can lead to runway incursions or worse, an accident.

The FAA identified 7 airfield geometry configurations that most frequently lead to pilot challenges resulting in runway incursion, and developed videos on these challenges. This series of 7 short videos on Complex Airfield Geometry is part of the FAA's From the Flight Deck video series. From the Flight Deck uses aircraft mounted cameras to capture runway and taxiway footage and combines them with diagrams and visual graphics to clearly identify hot spots and other safety-sensitive items. Learn more at faa.gov/go/FromTheFlightDeck or see the playlist here.

07/22/2022   Marshalling signal basics - VIDEO - INSTRUCTION -ASI - Watch this Safety Tip video from the AOPA Air Safety Institute to brush up on marshalling signal basics.

07/22/2022  Early Analysis: Deadly mistake in the North Las Vegas pattern - SAFETY INSTRUCTION - VIDEO - ASI - "On July 17, 2022, a Piper PA-46 Malibu and a Cessna 172 Skyhawk collided during landing at North Las Vegas Airport in Nevada. Each aircraft had two persons on board and sadly all four occupants were killed in the tragic collision."  Webmaster: Good Video to watch to learn Great Lessons from. SA, Bias, Visual Cues. Watch it Here.

07/19/2022   Record UK Heat Wave Causes Runway Damage At London Luton Airport - NEWS - AVweb - "Record heat is impacting air travel in the U.K., along with other travel infrastructure. On Monday, London Luton Airport, 30 miles north of the nation’s capital, was closed for several hours when 95-degree Fahrenheit (35 degrees Centigrade) temperatures caused a “surface defect” and a section of runway separated." More.'

07/08/2022   Notice Number: NOTC2472 - Subject: SNS RUNWAY 31 MALSR Construction Project - Cancellation: 09/13/2022 1200 (UTC)
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration
Salinas Tower
1645 Moffett St.
Salinas, CA 93905

• From July 11 to September 13 the RWY 31 MALSR will be out of service.
• Pilots should be aware of construction in the vicinity of the approach end of RWY 31.
• Pilots should use extreme caution due to increased approach minimums while the MALSR is out of service.
• Practice approaches to RWY 13/31 will not be approved while the RWY31 MALSR construction project is active.

RWY 13/31 will be closed at night at various times. See NOTAMS for details.

NOTAMs at https://notams.aim.faa.gov/notamSearch/disclaimer.html.

06/27/2022   The runways and taxiways at Long Beach Airport soon will be brighter and conserve more energy with the installation of more than 500 new LEDs as part of the Runway 12-30 electrical project. The new lights, to be installed this summer, are expected to save approximately 20KW per night, conserving energy and cutting the electricity bill by about $3,800 per year. Maintenance costs also are expected to be less since the bulbs have a longer life expectancy

06/22/2022   FAA tests solar-power airfield lighting at Penn Yan Airport - NEWS - From CNYCENTRAL - "Penn Yan, N.Y. — Penn Yan Airport is carrying a major study, potentially changing the future of lighting for runways. - At Penn Yan Airport, 23 safety systems, including runway and taxiway edge lights, obstruction lights, elevated runway guard lights, windsocks and signs, are lit with their own solar panels and battery supplies, the Federal Aviation Administration said. The FAA is gathering performance data for a year."  Story Here.

06/17/2022   FAA Awards $518 Million to Improve Critical Airport Infrastructure - FAA PR - In the second round of the 2022 Airport Improvement Program (AIP)?awards, the FAA awarded $518?million to build safer, more accessible airports across the country. This includes 416 grants to?airports across the U.S. to fund a variety of projects such as the construction of new and improved airport facilities, repairs to runways and taxiways, maintenance of airfield elements like lighting or signage, and purchasing equipment needed to operate and maintain airports.

Examples of grants include $7 million to reconfigure three intersecting runways at Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport in Springfield, Ill.; $5.3 million to improve drainage at Savanah/Hilton Head International Airport in Savanah, Ga.; and $431,680 to rehabilitate airport lighting, including the installation of LED runway and taxiway lights at Faribault Municipal-Liz Wall Strohfus Field Airport in Faribault, Minn.

The FAA has awarded a total of $1.1 billion of the $3.2 billion total funding available in Fiscal Year 2022. A complete listing of grants is on the?FAA website. You can also view an interactive map here with all the awards. 

06/13/2022   Citrus County's Tom Davis Airport gets green light for runway expansion - NEWS -  From Spectrum News 9 -  "CRYSTAL RIVER, Fla. — Tom Davis Airport in Crystal River has been allocated $7.1 million in the state budget for a runway expansion. The airport is a staple in the city and brings in millions of dollars to the economy, but the runway needs to be extended to allow for safer flights."  Story Here.

06/10/2022   Smoother sailing: Arlington (Washington) airport gets grant to fix runway - NEWS - "ARLINGTON — The main runway at Arlington Municipal Airport will have a new look and feel — and no bumps — thanks to a $2.3 million federal grant. - The Federal Aviation Administration awarded $518 million in federal airport improvement grants this year to airfields around the nation. The grants can only be used for airport infrastructure projects." Nearby airport news as well.  Read it Here.

06/06/2022   Craig Field To Get U.S.’s First Remote Tower ATC Center - ATC NEWS - From AVweb - "The Selma Economic Development Authority has announced plans to set up a Remote Tower Air Traffic Control Center at Craig Field (SEM) in Selma, Alabama. The project will be led by Valdosta, Georgia-based air traffic control academy Advanced ATC Inc. and conducted in partnership with Spain’s Indra Corp., which will provide staffing, software and logistics support. The center is expected to be the first of its kind in operation in the U.S. and is designed to allow air traffic controllers to “perform all the functions of a traditional control tower from a different location through the extensive use of cameras, real-time video and other advances.” Read About it Here.

06/06/2022  New Animation Added to Runway Safety Simulator - FAA - The Runway Safety Pilot Simulator online at www.RunwaySafetySimulator.com has a new animation. “Non-Towered Operations: Communications” is the first in a three-part series focusing on surface operations in the non-towered environment. This first part covers basic radio communications. Future parts will dive deeper into VFR operations and cover mixed VFR and IFR operations at non-towered airports.

More than half of GA operations are conducted at non-towered airports, which includes when an airport's control tower is closed, and air traffic services are not provided. As the pilot-in-command, you must know and understand operations at these airports. For more information, see AC 90-66, Non-Towered Airport Flight Operations, which was added to the site’s resources tab.

05/10/2022   KSLC Runway Safety Video - Salt Lake City Int’l (SLC) Runway Safety Video Released

This From the Flight Deck video gives GA pilots a heads up on potential surface safety risks at SLC, including:

• Hot Spots
• Wrong surface landing risks
• Wrong surface take off risks
• Potentially confusing taxiway/runway configurations

The video is at:  https://youtu.be/97TdBQsKcG0

05/04/2022   WEBINAR Event on 05/19 -  "From The Flight Deck LIVE - A Spring Training Workshop for GA Pilots" - WEBINAR - Runway Safety Best Practices and Discussion with GA Pilots and FAA Officials On Thursday, May 19, 2022 at 13:30 Eastern Daylight Time (10:30 PDT, 11:30 MDT, 12:30 CDT, 07:30 HST, 09:30 AKDT, 10:30 Arizona, 17:30 GMT)  -  As the weather starts to turn from cold gray skies to sunny cloudless blue ones, we know more pilots will want to take off to the runways. The FAA invites general aviation pilots to join the spring training session so that everyone feels refreshed and prepared to take to the skies after taking time away from the cockpit. Panels will remind pilots on runway procedures and work to preempt any airfield errors.

The focus of the From the Flight Deck LIVE is to help pilots reduce the risk of airfield errors and lower the potential for accidents. Discussion topics by pilots and air traffic experts will include knowledge of runway geometry and signage, Hot Spot Standardization, Arrival Alert Notices and more. - To view further details and registration information for this webinar, click here.

05/03/2022   CHARTING NOTICE - Subject: Arrival Alert Notice (AAN) and Airport Diagram Symbols for WrongSurface Hot Spots - Background: Numerous wrong-surface events have occurred which present a possible safety risk to the aviation industry and the flying public. Wrong-surface alignment has risen to the level of a Top 5 Safety Issue for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Air Traffic Organization (ATO). Currently, wrong-surface hot spots are depicted graphically on the airport diagram with multiple shapes. The FAA, aviation industry, and safety panels have recommended the adoption of three standardized shapes for both surface-based and wrong-surface hot spots. These standardized shapes are:

1. Cylinders to represent wrong-surface hot spots (landing surface).
2. Circles or Ellipses to represent surface-based hot spots, depending on the size of the hot spot.

Discussion: Beginning in May of 2022, the FAA will begin a test period to evaluate the concept of using AANs to help create situational awareness for pilots during their preflight planning. The AAN has been created to provide a visual graphic of the wrong surface landing hot spots and will be published in the Chart Supplement. The test is a result of the feedback received from a working group and safety panel and is intended to mitigate safety concerns and standardize symbology on airport diagrams. Eleven airports with existing wrong-surface/landing hot spots will have an AAN with a standardized wrong-surface hotspot symbol in the form of a racetrack cylinder to depict potential runway confusion during approach and landing. Additionally, the Wrong Surface hot spot cylinder symbol will be charted on the applicable airport diagrams as part of this test. The cylinder symbol will be charted at the runway ends associated with the hot spot and labeled with "HS" followed by a number, correlating with the information located in the Chart Supplement Hot Spot tabulation section.

The test and evaluation airports are:
1. Tucson, AZ, Tucson Intl (TUS)
2. Reno, NV, Reno/Tahoe Intl (RNO)
3. Palm Springs, CA, Palm Springs Intl (PSP)
4. San Jose, CA, Reid-Hillview of Santa Clara County (RHV)
5. Rochester, NY, Frederick Douglass/Greater Rochester Intl (ROC)
6. Honolulu, HI, Daniel K Inouye Intl (HNL)
7. Idaho Falls, ID, Idaho Falls Rgnl (IDA)
8. Atlanta, GA, DeKalb-Peachtree (PDK)
9. Dallas, TX, McKinney Ntl (TKI)
10. Minneapolis, MN, Flying Cloud (FCM)
11. Lincoln, NE, Lincoln (LNK)

Publication Information: This change will be effective on May 19th 2022. The airports listed above will have a Chart Supplement Special Notice(s) containing the AAN. Please visit https://www.faa.gov/airports/runway_safety/hotspots/hotspots_list/aan/ for more information on the AAN. Published by the May 2022 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION CS 22-02 CN Federal Aviation Administration.

04/211/2022   DARPA Project Seeks Self-Healing Concrete for Infrastructure, Runway Repair - From Flying - "If successful, the strategy for repairing aging concrete by mimicking biological systems could extend the life of critical military airfields and runways. - If a new Defense Department program is successful, cracks in aging concrete could one day fix themselves on the inside before their destruction reaches the surface, extending the life space of critical military infrastructure, such as runways and airfield pavement." Read about this Here.

04/20/2022   Did You Know? 11 Fun Facts About Runways - FUN SAFETY ARTICLE - From Flying - "Here are some weird things you need to know to geek out about this humble piece of infrastructure."  Read it Here.

04/04/2022   FAA Updates Airport Design Guidance - FAA - The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration updated its advisory circular on Airport Design that provides guidance to airport sponsors and airport consultants designing and developing airports around the country.

“The advisory circular provides a critical roadmap for the aviation industry when planning, designing and developing the nation’s airports,” said FAA Associate Administrator of Airports Shannetta R. Griffin. “This update contains the latest information the industry needs as we work collaboratively to build safe, sustainable and accessible airport infrastructure to safely transport passengers, goods and services.”

This advisory circular outlines the FAA’s recommended standards for an acceptable level of safety, efficiency and capacity when designing and implementing projects at airports to meet the requirements of Federal Aviation Regulation, Part 139 Certification of Airports. Airport sponsors that receive federal funding from the Airport Improvement Program and the Passenger Facility Charge Program are required to fully comply with the advisory circular.

The updates to the advisory circular include restructuring the document, explaining the meaning of terms used, expanding information in certain chapters and adding graphics to support information in the circular. - This advisory circular takes effect immediately and cancels the prior version, dated September 28, 2012.

 

 

03/21/2022   Safety aspects of flying into the  Sedona Airport (KSEZ). Produced by the Aviation Safety Advisory Group of Arizona.  Webmaster: A Great New Airport Safety Video!
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWrb-xCK1rA

 

 

 

03/21/2022  Arrival Alert Notices (AAN) are new graphics produced by the FAA that visually depict an approach at specific airports to help mitigate wrong surface misalignment risks for pilots.

What is happening? 
To address wrong surface events where an aircraft lines up to, lands on, or departs from the incorrect runway, taxiway, or airport, the FAA is releasing Arrival Alert Notices at several airports with a history of misalignment risk. AANs provide a graphic visually depicting the approach to a particular airport with a history of misalignment risk. There is also language describing the misalignment risk area.

AANs will incorporate the new standardized hot spot symbology.

Which airports will have AANs? 
The FAA will initially release AANs for the following airports and will continue to monitor wrong surface events at these locations to determine whether to create additional AANs.

• Lincoln Airport; Lincoln, Nebraska
• Flying Cloud Airport; Flying Cloud, Minnesota
• Tucson International Airport; Tucson, Arizona
• Reno-Tahoe International Airport; Reno, Nevada
• Palm Springs International Airport; Palm Springs, California
• Reid-Hillview Airport; Reid-Hillview, San Jose, California
• Daniel K. Inouye International Airport; Honolulu, Hawaii
• Idaho Falls Regional Airport; Idaho Falls, Idaho
• McKinney National Airport; McKinney, Texas
• Greater Rochester International Airport; Rochester, New York
• DeKalb-Peachtree Airport; Chamblee, Georgia

When will the AANs be available? 
The AANs will be released in the May 19, 2022 charting cycle. Access digital aeronautical charts here.

For inquiries or feedback and comments contact 9-awa-RunwaySafety@faa.gov

 

02/11/2022   Regardless of where the SuperBowl is held, it's always happening in Las Vegas - Notice Number: NOTC2258 - Pilots should anticipate a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) in the Los Angeles area on Sunday, February 13, 2022.

Flights into and out of Las Vegas area increase during major sporting events.

Pilots are encouraged to check NOTAMs frequently to confirm they have the most current information.

Below are links to the FAA's Superbowl page:

HND, PSP and VGT runway safety videos have been posted to the [http://FAA Safety Plan for Super Bowl LVI website.]http://FAA Safety Plan for Super Bowl LVI website.

HND:  https://youtu.be/9czJjRMnARA

PSP:  https://youtu.be/saHE-KPqu3Y

VGT: https://youtu.be/HCzEuarMA9A

https://www.runwaysafetysimulator.com/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5II-s_j35cI&t=13s

Attention Pilots flying into the Las Vegas Valley.   Avoid a Pilot Deviation Report:  Las Vegas Bravo (Class B) Airspace--be sure to receive those magic words "Cleared into the Bravo Airspace."  Copy and readback your clearances, verify the proper runway for which you've been cleared to land (Left or Right). IFR Departures be sure to read, study, and understand your clearance and the associated Departure Procedure.  Expect to fly it until/unless you receive ATC instructions to do something else.

 

2/01/2022   North Las Vegas Airport (VGT) Wrong Surface Landing (WSL) Risk - Notice Number: NOTC2239 - [https://Visit the Runway Safety Simulator]VGT has one set of staggered (at both ends) parallel runways (12/30 L/R) and one crosswind runway (7/25) that intersects runway 12R/30L.  It is primarily used by general aviation aircraft for flight training.  The entire movement area to include runways and infields are one color and blend in very well with the desert terrain making it very difficult for pilots to identify the parallel runways, which are less than 700 feet apart. There are mountain ridges surrounding the airport and when aircraft drop below the ridgeline they are visually lost in ground clutter; combine that with the optical restraints associated with the angle air traffic controllers (ATC) have, and it is very difficult for ATC to identify when an aircraft is lined up with the wrong runway.

Since Jan 28, 2017, until the last week, VGT experienced a total of nine reported wrong surface events.  Between Jan 20, 2022, and Jan 24, 2022, three additional wrong surface landings (WSL) have occurred at the airport.  This rash of WSL events, along with the anticipated increase of transient traffic expected to begin Feb 4, 2022 for the Pro Bowl and Super Bowl, brings concern and desire for additional mitigations to be put in to place to restrain WSLs.  We recommend all pilots that plan to fly into VGT watch the following short YouTube videos and review the VGT airport diagram in detail before departing to avoid making this costly mistake.

From the Flight Deck - North Las Vegas Airport (VGT) - YouTube

From the Flight Deck - Wrong Surface Landings - YouTube

12/06/2021   New NOTAM (Notice to AIR MISSIONS) name change. The updated NOTAMs also reflect some ICAO terminology changes. Per AVweb: "The term “good” as a criterion for braking action has been removed and the agency has added more detail to describe the operation of runway alignment lights to replace the single term “unserviceable” because it “did not accurately describe the reduced condition of the ALS.”

12/01/2021   OXNARD Airport, Oxnard, CA - The runway is NOW OPEN after a lengthy improvement process, and it is truly beautiful!

11/15/2021   San Luis Obispo Runway Improvement Finished - From AINonline - California Airport Completes Runway Rehab | Aerospace News: Aviation International News (ainonline.com)

05/26/2021   FAA Issues Policy on Solar Projects on Airports - The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) published a final policy aimed at ensuring that airport solar projects don’t create hazardous glare. The policy requires airports to measure the visual impact of such projects on pilots and air traffic control personnel. - The policy applies to proposed solar energy systems at federally obligated airports with control towers. Federally obligated airports are public airports that have accepted federal assistance either in the form of grants of property conveyances. As more airports invests in this technology for environmental and economic benefits, the FAA wants to make sure that the reflection from the systems’ glass surfaces do not create a glare that poses a safety hazard for pilots and air traffic controllers.

Under the final policy, airports are no longer required to submit the results of an ocular analysis to FAA. Instead, the airport must file a Notice of Proposed Construction or Alteration Form 7460-1 that includes a statement that the project will not cause any visual impact. The airport submits the form to the FAA for review and approval.

The FAA relies on the airport to confirm via the form that it has sufficiently analyzed the potential for glint and glare and determined there is no potential for ocular impact to the airport traffic control tower cab. If any impacts are discovered after construction, the airport must mitigate the impact at its expense. The airport may also face compliance action for failure to address visual impacts that create aviation safety hazards. As such, the agency encourages an airport to conduct sufficient analysis before installing a solar energy system.

The FAA is also withdrawing the recommended tool for measuring the ocular impact of potential glint and glare effects on pilots and air traffic controllers. This final policy supersedes the interim policy published in 2013.

05/13/2021   FAA Awards $898.9 Million in Airport Improvement Grants - (INCLUDES  VAN NUYS)

05/02/2021  AINsight: Runway Excursions and Crosswind Landings - Safety - From AINonline - "Runway excursions have become one of the most common types of aircraft accidents worldwide. Most of them occur during landing with lateral excursions and are becoming a growing concern. -Typically, poor pilot technique or aircraft handling errors combined with environmental factors such as weather contribute to these events. Crosswinds in particular have proven to be a challenge. While these events are rarely deadly, lateral runway excursions, or veer-offs, often result in a hull loss.

Last month’s blog focused on runway excursions and crosswind takeoffs..." Visit the entire story Here.

 

04/18/2021  Finding new ways to repel wildlife at airports - PR / RUNWAY SAFETY - From General Aviation News - "Collisions between wildlife and aircraft have increased in the past 30 years because of an increase in both hazardous wildlife species populations and aircraft movements. To help reduce the risk of these potentially dangerous interactions, biologists with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Wildlife Services (WS) provide airports across the nation with advice and recommendations on how to keep runways and flight paths clear of wildlife."  Read the Story Here.

 

03/13/2021  Ontario International Airport, FAA announce temporary change in contraflow operations during runway project - (Ontario, California – March 5, 2021) – Ontario International Airport (ONT) announced today it is working closely with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regarding a temporary cease in contraflow flight times due to the Taxiway Sierra Rehabilitation Project.

03/07/2021   Enhancing Runway Safety - From FAA Safety Briefing - The March/April 2021 issue of FAA Safety Briefing focuses on the many facets of airport surface safety. - Feature articles and departments provide a “road map” to the various tools, resources, and strategies airmen can use to steer clear of risk during the ramp-to-runway segment of their journey. We look at some technology advances, both inside and outside the cockpit, that are proving effective in the battle against runway incursions and surface safety events.

We also take a behind-the-scenes look at the FAA’s surface safety stewards, the men and women who manage the agency’s Runway Safety Program and who regularly depend on your feedback. - The following Six Topics are Featured. Just Click on the Topic link you might desire!

The Anatomy of a Wrong Surface Event

 

Hot Spots! Part Deux

 

Right Stuff — Wrong Place, Wrong Time

 

The Cost of Frost on Runways

 

Safe and Sound on the Ground

 

Surface Safety Done Right

 

02/27/2021   One LAX Arrival Runway To Temporarily Close For $17.3 Million Overhaul - NEWS - From MyNewsLA.com - "A runway and two taxiways on the south side of the LAX airfield are scheduled to undergo a $17.3 million renovation, but travelers are not expected to be impacted." Continue Here.

 

02/22/2021   Runway Mats via 3D Printing

From: The American Society of Mechanical Engineers - ARTICLE - "Purdue University and the U.S. Air Force are co-developing a portable, lightweight, 3D-printed runway mat. Using an engineered material called “Phase Transforming Cellular Material (PXCM),” the runway can adjust for varying loading..." Read More About This and More with 3D Printing advances Here.

 

02/19/2021

Airport Improvement Grants Awarded

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation today announced three grants for infrastructure projects through the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) FY2021 Airport Improvement Program. The grants, the first of approximately $3.2 billion in funding available through this program annually, will provide a total of $76 million to Chicago O’Hare International, Dallas-Fort Worth International and Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airports.

“Modernizing our nation's infrastructure is a top priority for President Biden’s economic agenda, and the Airport Improvement Program allows airports nationwide to upgrade and improve the safety of their facilities,” said U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg. “These improvements—at some of our nation's busiest airports—will serve our communities and the traveling public as we start to build our country back better.”

The three airports are receiving funds under the terms of Letters of Intent previously issued by the FAA, committing to a schedule of grant funding spread over multiple fiscal years. Grant awards include:

• Chicago O’Hare International will receive $25 million to reimburse the airport for the construction phase of Runway 9C/27C that includes site utilities, grading and pavement work. Runway 9C/27C was commissioned on November 5, 2020.

• Dallas-Fort Worth International will receive $31 million to construct 10,200 feet of the Northeast end around taxiway system to eliminate the need for aircraft to cross active runways. The taxiways are expected to be completed in September 2025.

• Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International will receive $20 million to reimburse the airport for the extension of Runway 10R/28L to 8,000 feet. The extension allows higher service volume of aircraft and reduce delay of the existing traffic. The Runway 10R/28L extension was completed and commissioned on September 18, 2014, and all related improvements were completed in September 2015.

“Each airport project provides a benefit to the National Airspace System through safety and capacity enhancement,” said FAA Administrator Steve Dickson. “As a former airline pilot, I can attest firsthand that the traveling public are best served when the system handles demand without unnecessary delays.”

The Airport Improvement Program grants fund airport infrastructure projects such as runways, taxiways, airport signage, airport lighting and airport markings. Annually, the grant program is funded for approximately $3.2 billion.  These are the first three grants of more than 1,500 grants to hundreds of U.S. airports that the FAA will issue this year.

A complete listing of grants (PDF) and an interactive map of airports receiving funding is maintained on the FAA website.

 

02/06/2021

LAX Runway Closure Set for Feb. 26 Through May 5

"Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is set to close Runway 25L/7R from Feb. 26 – May 5 due to a continuing runway/taxiway rehabilitation project. The construction will take place in the several phases as outlined below." - NBAA   Read More HERE.

 

01/04/2021

New From the Flight Deck Video Highlights Hold Short Instructions

Every airport is unique, and complex runway and taxiway configurations can lead pilots to make mistakes in the air and on the ground. The latest addition to the FAA’s From the Flight Deck video series helps pilots know when and where to hold short. The video combines runway and taxiway footage from cockpit mounted cameras with diagrams and visual graphics to clearly identify hot spots and other safety-sensitive items. Check out the video here https://youtu.be/hvmVmu4o470 and learn more at www.faa.gov/go/FromTheFlightDeck.

 

For PRIOR RUNWAY SAFETY Posts 2019-2020 - They can be VIEWED HERE.