Description

An aerodrome Runway Safety Team (LRST) is a key element in an aerodrome runway safety programme. As a minimum, the aerodrome RST, which at European aerodromes is often called Local Runway Safety Team (LRST), should consist os representatives from the main groups associated with take-off and landing operations, namely the aerodrome operator (which could include navigation aids engineers, infrastructure maintenance etc.), Meteorological offices and Aeronautical Information Service providers, representatives from the air navigation service provider, local air traffic control, aircraft operators, pilot associations and other relevant organisations that operate on the manoeuvring area.

Role

RSTs should ensure that a strong focus is maintained on runway safety across all parties creating, de facto, an aerodrome level safety management function. At some aerodromes cross-disciplinary teams may already exist that could carry out the functions of the LRST, each using a discrete runway safety agenda. If such teams are employed, it is essential that their work is not duplicated; instead the work should be integrated as part of the aerodrome’s runway safety action plan and management of change processes.

Objectives

The specific objectives of LRST include:

• Identifying potential runway safety issues by reviewing aerodrome practices regularly, and when relevant information is available, from incident investigation findings or feedback from frontline personnel such as pilots, ATCOs or vehicle drivers (e.g. collected by operational learning reviews, shop talks or similar information exchange). Consider using recurrent training of aircraft operators, ANSPs or aerodrome operators as a possible source of such feedback.
• Identifying any local problem areas and suggesting improvements and workable mitigations (e.g. by sharing the outcome of investigation reports)
• Developing appropriate risk-prevention and mitigation measures as well as creating action plans containing relevant preventative and mitigating items linked to a runway safety concern, issue or problem at that aerodrome;
• Monitoring the number, type and severity of runway incursions, taxiway excursions, near misses, including near or at limit operation showing normalisation of pushing the limits e.g. using minimum separation only without additional safety margins
• Working as a cohesive team to better understand the operating difficulties of personnel who work in other areas and recommend options for improvement;
• Ensuring that the recommendations contained in the global action plans for the prevention of runway incursions and runway excursions are implemented;
• Conducting runway safety awareness campaigns that focus on local issues (e.g. producing and distributing local hot spot maps or other guidance material as considered necessary). Consider liaising with aircraft operators and/or chart providers to enhance or implement meaningful airport briefings for crews and vehicle drivers; and
• Regularly reviewing the compliance of the airfield with ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices.

Preparing a Runway Safety Programme for an Aerodrome

A runway safety programme should demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the safety implications of several key factors. These include the runway and taxiway layout, the effects of the traffic intensity and mix, the taxiway designations, and both visual and non-visual aids such as markings, lighting and signage. The context provided by AYS procedures, including the use of radar systems and communication of the prevailing runway safety situation through the AIP and through NOTAMS, also should be recognised in the programme. Further guidance and advice for RSTs concerning the establishment of practical approaches to enhance runway safety can be found in the Global Action Plan for the Prevention of Runway Incursions (GAPPRI) and the Global Action Plan for the Prevention of Runway Excursions (GAPPRE), which contain several recommendations especially for the work and effectiveness of RSTs.

Each action item determined by the RST should include designation of a responsible person or organisation for completing the item's relevant tasks. There may be more than one person or organisation affected by an action item; however, one person or organisation should take the lead and be responsible for the completion of all the tasks associated with that action item. A realistic time frame to accomplish the tasks should also be associated with each action item.

The aerodrome RST can also consider the operating procedures employed by different companies at the aerodrome. As noted, one objective for a runway safety programme will be to create or enhance procedures that minimise the risk of runway incursions and runway excursions. Extra care should be taken when examining existing or proposed runway capacity enhancing procedures and noise abatement schemes involving preferential runway systems.

A major lesson learned from aerodrome RSTs' experiences to date is that it may be unrealistic to presume all flights crews are familiar with local runway procedures. So LRSTs must write their runway safety programme with that basic understanding and corresponding mitigations. Another lesson learned is the likelihood that runway safety difficulties may be encountered at aerodromes where compliance with ICAO SARPs has not been respected.

Further Reading

• ICAO Doc 9870, Chapter 3
• ICAO Runway Safety Team Handbook, Second Edition, June 2015
• Runway Safety Newsletter February 2007 includes some of the issues presented at the EUROCONTROL Local Runway Safety Team Seminar held in April 2006:
• RWY Safety Maturity Checklist a MS Excel tool developed by CANSO to successfully measure the safety maturity of runways
• RWY Safety Maturity Checklist Flyer
• RWY Safety Maturity Checklist a presentation by EUROCONTROL