The US Federal Aviation Administration is implementing ten additional near-term measures for reducing runway incursions at the nation's congested airports.
Six of the ten initiatives involve special training for pilots, controllers and airline ground workers. The measures are in addition to several procedural changes adopted last month. They cover taxi and hold procedures. Controllers are to use a reasonable speech rate when communicating with foreign pilots. The FAA is developing coded taxi routes and will expand data link usage for issuing taxi clearances to departing aircraft. The FAA is also reviewing intersecting runway operations to ensure that separation standards meet all safety requirements.
Of the new training measures, tower controllers will undergo short-term memory techniques to help reduce operational errors. The FAA will review the current phraseology between pilots and controllers to help reduce frequency congestion.
In September, the FAA will ask the industry for innovating ways to improve safety such as better lighting, markings and signage. It has earmarked $5 million for the effort. It will also pick the contractor for ASDE-X, a lower-cost alternative to the existing ground mapping radar system, next month. In October, the US aviation agency will unveil a national blueprint for runway safety, which will include additional measures suggested by airline, airport, FAA and industry representatives.
Source: Flight International
