Story ID: 
Eurocontrol Updates Plan to Prevent Runway Incursions
By: Gordon Gilbert
Caption: Number of runway incursions has remained steady, despite implementation of the recommendations contained in the two previous versions of the plan.
Word Count: 198
Version 3.0 of the European Action Plan for the Prevention of Runway Incursions (EAPPRI) contains new guidance and modifications to existing recommendations to refocus and re-energize ongoing action across the aviation industry to prevent runway incursions. Nevertheless, the number of runway incursions has remained steady, despite widespread implementation of the recommendations contained in the two previous versions of the action plan, Eurocontrol says.

“It is shown that there continues to be a minimum of two runway incursions every day in the European region,” Eurocontrol said. “Findings from those incidents and accidents have been used to determine new recommendations and associated guidance materials.”

In particular, EAPPRI v3.0 challenges the aviation industry to review the effectiveness of systemic runway incursion risk reduction activities associated with safety management systems and national airport runway safety teams.

Added recommendations range from new measures to enhance the safety of airside vehicle drivers who need to access runways; to improving air traffic controllers’ visual scanning so they can maintain a continuous watch of airport ground operations. Furthermore, there are recommendations for the industry to move toward graphically displaying safety-critical airport information to pilots to improve their situational awareness.