Runway incursions are more prevalent because there are more airlines and aircraft. It's as simple as that, and no amount of number crunching will alter the fact.
The more aircraft that use runways and taxiways, the greater the risk of accidents, whether they be of human or system origin. Only one aircraft can occupy one runway at a time, with that time being from brakes off through to rotation, with all other aircraft being required to wait their turn.
How much more efficient and safe can that be? If an airport's capacity is already full, then it should not accept more traffic. Surely that is the whole point of slot allocation?
Perhaps someone should enlighten me as to how runways and taxiways can be used more efficiently, because in my mind, this will lead to more traffic being handled on the ground. It's just shifting the risk.
I fail to see how an airport can operate safely with its capacity being exceeded.
Peter Carey
Portchester, Hampshire, UK
Source: Flight International
