FAA Puts New Emphasis on Reducing Takeoff Excursions

While landing excursions outnumber takeoff excursions by four times, the latter category of mishaps “still occur at an unacceptable rate,” the FAA said in a Safety Alert for Operators released on Friday. Two-thirds of takeoff-related events are overruns, and turboprops are involved in the largest percentage, followed closely by jets, the agency said.

According to the FAA, it's often errors in takeoff performance calculation that increase the risk of a takeoff runway excursion. “Operators should have procedures in place that provide proper weight-and-balance data, accurate takeoff-performance data and methods for error detection,” it noted.

The FAA said that it is of “primary importance” that weight-and-balance and takeoff performance numbers be verified by both flight crewmembers. In addition, training should also focus on "risk recognition and mitigation" regarding the hazards of incorrectly entering data into the flight management system, electronic flight bags or other electronic devices used for takeoff performance calculations. “Last-minute changes due to passengers and/or cargo adjustments, changes in weather, assigned runway or runway conditions or clearances are fertile ground for errors to occur,” according to the agency.

Using the guidance contained in the FAA Takeoff Safety Training website with “clearly defined” SOPs and training for rejected takeoff decisions also guards against potential errors, the agency concluded.