The FAA has scheduled runway safety meetings at some 90 airports through the end of next month to review potential issues and discuss mitigations. Held in concert with the Runway Safety Action Team, these annual meetings serve as a key forum for pinpointing and addressing issues in the runway environment.
However, the meetings this year are taking on heightened visibility and perhaps more urgency after a series of close calls in the runway environment that have captured the attention of regulators, Congress, and the media.
“Sharing information is critical to improving safety,” said Tim Arel, COO of the FAA’s Air Traffic Organization. “These meetings, along with other efforts, will help us achieve our goal of zero close calls.”
The agency in February issued a safety call to action after a series of incidents, including runway incursions, and in March hosted a safety summit to delve into possible initiatives to address safety concerns. Among the results from the summit was a commitment from the FAA and the aviation community to pursue a goal of zero serious close calls, the agency said, adding that “the same approach virtually eliminated the risk of fatalities aboard U.S. commercial airlines.”
Representatives from the FAA’s air traffic organization, airlines, pilots, airport vehicle drivers, and others will participate in the meetings.