EASA Opinion Seeks Runway Incursion Safeguards

After considering 1,785 comments to a December 2018 notice of proposed amendment (NPA) aimed at improving runway safety, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) issued a formal opinion calling for a range of measures to prevent runway incursions by aircraft, vehicles, and people.

The next step toward issuing a final rule, the formal opinion covers the operation of vehicles at airports, including the authorization of drivers, and the conformance of vehicles operating in maneuvering areas. Linked to this is also the proposal for a new requirement on communications between vehicles and ground control facilities, as well as a proposal for the control of pedestrians on aircraft movement areas.

In addition, the opinion proposes all the necessary requirements to support the application of new runway surface condition assessment and reporting standards that will be applicable worldwide by November 2020. Moreover, new requirements are introduced regarding notam origination, airport maintenance and snow removal plans, aircraft towing and FOD control, as well as changes to existing requirements related to surface movement guidance and control systems. The agency expects to issue a final rule in the second quarter of next year.

EASA had received comments to the NPA from national aviation authorities, airport operators and airport operators’ associations, aircraft manufacturers and operators, air traffic control providers and aviation professional organizations.