Despite the collision on the runway at Milan Linate airport in October 2001, some European airports are "not particularly interested" in updating their safety systems to prevent a similar crash, says Thales senior vice-president, air systems, Alexandre de Juniac.
"We can't understand why in various airports where this is a critical issue the authorities aren't interested", he adds.
His comments at Paris come as a major European study reveals that there is a "potentially serious" runway incursion in Europe every three or four days and calls for "preventive measures to be implemented as soon as possible".
Eurocontrol says analysis of the available data indicates that "there may be one runway incursion every day within the region. Thirty five percent of these incursions are serious."
The Linate collision occurred when a Cessna Citation II business jet crossed onto the main runway just as a Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS) MD-87 twinjet was beginning its take-off roll during heavy fog. Everyone on board both aircraft and several people on the ground died.
Thales is offering its Advanced Surface Movement Guidance and Control System (A-SMGCS), which successfully completed trials in 2004 and is now fully operational at Munich airport.
"We're trying to push airports to buy integrated systems," says de Juniac. "But there is very little movement in this sector."
In April 2004, Eurocontrol's provisional council approved a European action plan for the prevention of runway incursions, which called for "rapid implementation of the recommendations to reduce runway accidents and incidents and improve safety".
These included establishing runway safety teams, ensuring ICAO standards were met and ensuring all communications are carried out in aviation English.
"We can't understand why in various airports where this is a critical issue the authorities aren't interested", he adds.
His comments at Paris come as a major European study reveals that there is a "potentially serious" runway incursion in Europe every three or four days and calls for "preventive measures to be implemented as soon as possible".
Eurocontrol says analysis of the available data indicates that "there may be one runway incursion every day within the region. Thirty five percent of these incursions are serious."
The Linate collision occurred when a Cessna Citation II business jet crossed onto the main runway just as a Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS) MD-87 twinjet was beginning its take-off roll during heavy fog. Everyone on board both aircraft and several people on the ground died.
Thales is offering its Advanced Surface Movement Guidance and Control System (A-SMGCS), which successfully completed trials in 2004 and is now fully operational at Munich airport.
"We're trying to push airports to buy integrated systems," says de Juniac. "But there is very little movement in this sector."
In April 2004, Eurocontrol's provisional council approved a European action plan for the prevention of runway incursions, which called for "rapid implementation of the recommendations to reduce runway accidents and incidents and improve safety".
These included establishing runway safety teams, ensuring ICAO standards were met and ensuring all communications are carried out in aviation English.
Source: Flight Daily News
