Airport Operations

These are the Airport Operations News Bulletins issued by Flight Safety Foundation during 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005.

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2005

Date	Subject
September-October 2005	Crew Lands B-777 on Runway Section Closed for Construction. The flight crew had received several advisories about displaced-threshold operations at the New Zealand airport. The aircraft was observed on a low approach by the work-party coordinator, who kept the workers clear of the construction area.
July-August 2005	U.K. Government–Industry Partnership Targets London Airspace Infringements. The initiative has identified causal factors, emphasized procedural compliance and worked to improve communication between general aviation aircraft pilots and air traffic controllers. An independent Internet site enables stakeholders to monitor the results.
May-June 2005	Noise-abatement Procedures Require Periodic Risk Assessment. European authorities typically require airport managers, air traffic controllers and aircraft operators to reduce aircraft noise through operating procedures and other methods. Demonstration flights and flight-data monitoring could help determine if noise- related operating constraints conflict with safety objectives, said the U.K. Civil Aviation Authority.
March-April 2005	Training Deficiency Leaves Catering Driver Unprepared to Resolve Disorientation. During takeoff, an Airbus A330 passed directly over a motor vehicle that inadvertently was being operated on the same runway. Although experienced and authorized to drive on parts of the Sydney International Airport movement area, the driver had neither a two-way radio nor guidance for this situation, said the Australian Transport Safety Bureau. During takeoff, an Airbus A330 passed directly over a motor vehicle that inadvertently was being operated on the same runway. Although experienced and authorized to drive on parts of the Sydney International Airport movement area, the driver had neither a two-way radio nor guidance for this situation, said the Australian Transport Safety Bureau.
January-February 2005	Disagreements About Deicing, Post-deicing Inspection Contribute to Serious Incident. Citing inadequate procedures for contracting airport ground services, the Italian Air Safety Board said that the flight crew of a Fokker 70 did not recognize that the wings were cold-soaked, suspect formation of clear ice or inspect the upper-wing surface before takeoff. Citing inadequate procedures for contracting airport ground services, the Italian Air Safety Board said that the flight crew of a Fokker 70 did not recognize that the wings were cold-soaked, suspect formation of clear ice or inspect the upper-wing surface before takeoff.

2004

Date	Subject
November-December 2004	Analyzing Runway Incursion Severity Helps Identify Solutions 6 pages. [PDF 104K] Efforts by civil aviation authorities to learn safety lessons by comparing similar data sometimes have been impeded by conflicting definitions. Applying U.S. categories for severity, however, has helped Australian specialists to reduce the risk of accidents in airport-surface operations.
September-October 2004	System Flags Altimeter-setting Errors in Weather Observations. Canadian authorities were alarmed in 1997 by the unexpected rate of human errors in altimeter settings. They have succeeded in preventing nearly all types of these errors.
July-August 2004	Propeller Injures Maintenance Technician During Apron Check of Deicing Boots. Inadequate coordination of airport police officers and other specialists hindered the emergency response and the accident investigation, said the Dutch Transport Safety Board. Investigators also found that the supervisor knew that the maintenance technician had worked only on turbojet airplanes and had limited line experience.
May-June 2004	Communicating From the Pushback-tractor Seat Helps Prevent Serious Injuries. Accident investigations, working groups and surveys have recommended methods of increasing worker safety during pushback operations. Airlines and ramp service contractors have adopted engineering solutions and many changes based on awareness of human factors.
March-April 2004	European Air Traffic Controllers Assert Influence to Prevent Runway Incursions. Prevention requires teamwork by controllers, pilots, airport operators and others, but a European action plan also recommends that controllers promote compliance with ICAO standards, correct phraseology and wider use of aviation English.
January-February 2004	Data Limit Ongoing Analysis of ARFF-vehicle Rollover Accidents. Preventing lateral loss of control in aircraft rescue and fire fighting vehicles with a high center of gravity can require countermeasures such as vehicle-specific driver-operator training, vehicle-suspension modifications and lateral-acceleration warning devices.

2003

Date	Subject
November-December 2003	B-747 Collision With Airbridge Follows Apparent Brake Failure 4 pages. Passenger behavior — described by the chief cabin attendant as a ‘riot’ prompted by observations of wing-tank fuel venting — complicated the flight crew’s return to the gate in response to a failed engine instrument. Failure to manually connect an auxiliary hydraulic pump rendered the aircraft brake system inoperative for taxi.
September-October 2003	Audit of ATC Operational Errors Prompts Call for Mandatory Remedial Training. The U.S. Department of Transportation investigated whether optional traininghas been effective in reducing operational errors by air traffic controllers. Auditors recommended a policy of mandatory training — without connotations of punishment — when relatively serious operational errors occur
July-August 2003	New Strategies Prevent ATC Clearances for Operation on Closed Runways 6 pages. In a few recent runway incursions, aircraft crews obtained an inadvertent clearance from air traffic controllers to take off or to land on a closed runway. Solutions have included revised procedures, improved communication and reevaluation of some memory aids.
May-June 2003	Human Error Causes Outages in Airway Facilities. To prevent personnel-induced equipment outages, operations managers see opportunities to improve communication and coordination, address procedural problems and avoid issues caused by the introduction of new software or equipment.
March-April 2003	High-visibility Clothing Alone Fails to Protect Workers From Being Struck by Vehicles 6 pages. Reviewing U.S. injuries/fatalities, air carrier data and international airport surveys, a study by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration found an industry consensus favoring comprehensive apron-safety programs at airports. Conspicuity of workers often was not a factor in accidents.
January-February 2003	Inadequate Weather Communication Cited in B-737 Microburst-downdraft Incident 8 pages. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau said that, among other factors, air traffic controllers did not advise the flight crew — nor did the crew request — details about the lateral limits, direction of travel and groundspeed of a thunderstorm approaching the destination airport.

2002

Date	Subject
November-December 2002	Virtual-reality Simulation of Aircraft Accidents Challenges ARFF Incident Commanders. Wider adoption of this technology hinges on funding and further study of this method of developing aircraft rescue and fire fighting skills.
September-October 2002	Solutions Target Chronic Hazards to Aircraft During Airport Construction 12 pages. International practices, discrepancy data from airport inspectors, accidents and incidents influence airport operators’ methods of reducing construction-related risks. New advisory information continues to address safety-area encroachments, unauthorized/improper vehicle operations and unmarked/uncovered holes and trenches as the most prevalent issues
July-August 2002	Border-collie Patrols Are Among Newest Methods of Airport Wildlife Control 8 pages. Airport studies have found that the dogs’ harassment of birds has helped reduce bird populations and the number of bird-strike accidents. The dogs also have been effective in reducing the presence of other wildlife in aircraft operations areas
May-June 2002	Maintaining Visual Aids Helps to Prevent Runway Incursions. Evolving methods of inspection, evaluation and maintenance enable airports to identify deficiencies before pilots or ground personnel experience surface-navigation problems. Safety specialists in several countries are working to ensure that airport markings, signs and lighting remain visible
March-April 2002	Rapid Deplaning by Airbridge Requires Coordinated Procedures. The decision to use an airbridge for precautionary deplaning or emergency evacuation at the gate rests with the aircraft captain. The U.K. Civil Aviation Authority recommends that airports be involved in coordinating procedures used by crewmembers, gate agents, airbridge operators and aircraft rescue and fire fighting personnel.
January-February 2002	Airport-operations Simulation Aids Evaluation of Strategies to Prevent Runway Incursions at LAX. Tests conducted in a U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration simulator showed that a taxiway extension and revised traffic-management procedures might help to reduce runway incursions at Los Angeles (California, U.S.) International Airport

To download all 2002 Newsletters (6 files) in a compressed file (zip) 1,021KB Please Click here

2001

Date	Subject
November-December 2001	Rejected Takeoff Prevents Runway Collision After System of ATC Defenses Fails. The Dutch Transportation Safety Board said that the Boeing 767 flight crew observed the Boeing 747 as it was being towed across the runway in low-visibility conditions. The takeoff clearance involved misinterpretation of the surface movement radar display of the B-747’s position and direction of movement
September-October 2001	Memory Lapses, Miscommunication, Inadequate Coordination Cited as Most Common Causes of Tower Controllers’ Errors. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration says that reports on operational errors at U.S. airport traffic control towers show that the most common contributing factor was that the controller forgot crucial information, such as an aircraft clearance, a vehicle on a runway or a closed runway.
July-August 2001	Traffic Conflict Near Australian Airport Prompts Call for Airborne Collision Avoidance Systems. The investigation revealed problems with situational awareness and self-separation techniques under instrument flight rules. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau recommended mandatory use of airborne collision avoidance systems by aircraft with 10 seats to 30 seats in regular public transport operations.
March-June 2001	Special Double Issue: In Aircraft Fueling, Fire Prevention Requires Strict Compliance With Routine Procedures. Universally recommended practices for fueling transport aircraft have helped to maintain a low incidence of jet-fuel fires on airport ramps. Despite the few accidents on record, complacency, poor training, inadequate compliance with procedures or neglected maintenance can cause serious consequences.
January-February 2001	U.S. Security Screeners Must Improve Performance at Airport Checkpoints. A study of security-screening practices at airports in Belgium, Canada, France, Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the United States said that aptitude, job qualifications, pay and training influence screeners’ effectiveness in detecting hazardous items in carry-on baggage.

To download all 2001 Newsletters (6 files) in a compressed file (zip) 303KB Please Click here