Officials from the FAA say the number of serious runway incursions at US airports has fallen for the second consecutive year.
Those numbers have fallen as the economic downturn has also spurred decreases in capacity and traffic. In its 2010 economic report the Air Transport Association of America (ATA) estimates capacity fell 6.3% from 2008 to 2009 while traffic dropped 5.3%.
Traffic has started to rebound in 2010 as the Bureau of Transportation Statistics estimates traffic grew 2.3% through June while capacity declined 0.8%.
During fiscal 2010 ending 30 September, FAA says the number of serious runway incursions occurring year-over-year at US airports fell from 12 to six. Of the six incursions logged in fiscal 2010, three involved commercial aircraft, says the agency.
"Today's announcement reflects a steady, significant improvement in runway safety over the last decade," says FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt. FAA estimates in fiscal 2000 67 serious runway incursions occurred.
Part of the sharp drop-off stems from FAA's efforts to improve runway safety that include installation of new technology at airports and improved signage and markings at those facilities.
Marking the decrease in runway incursions in fiscal 2010 Babbitt today in Boston announced the successful testing of a runway status light system at Logan airport.
The system is designed to alert pilots of potential runway incursions or collisions through a network of red lights embedded in the airfield. Pilots must stop when the red lights are illuminated, and need clearance from air traffic control to continue operating an aircraft. Runway status lights are currently deployed at Dallas-Fort Worth, San Diego and Los Angeles airports, and are scheduled for installation at 23 airports across the USA beginning next year.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
