Flight Safety Foundation Airport Operations 1988

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November–December 2004

Analyzing Runway Incursion Severity Helps Identify Solutions 6 pages. [PDF 104K]

Efforts by civil aviation authorities to learn safety lessons by comparing similar data sometimes have been impeded by conflicting definitions. Applying U.S. categories for severity, however, has helped Australian specialists to reduce the risk of accidents in airport-surface operations.

September–October 2004

System Flags Altimeter-setting Errors in Weather Observations 4 pages. [PDF 67K]

Canadian authorities were alarmed in 1997 by the unexpected rate of human errors in altimeter settings. They have succeeded in preventing nearly all types of these errors.

July–August 2004

Propeller Injures Maintenance Technician During Apron Check of Deicing Boots 4 pages. [PDF 90K]

Inadequate coordination of airport police officers and other specialists hindered the emergency response and the accident investigation, said the Dutch Transport Safety Board. Investigators also found that the supervisor knew that the maintenance technician had worked only on turbojet airplanes and had limited line experience.

May–June 2004

Communicating From the Pushback-tractor Seat Helps Prevent Serious Injuries 4 pages. [PDF 76K]

Accident investigations, working groups and surveys have recommended methods of increasing worker safety during pushback operations. Airlines and ramp service contractors have adopted engineering solutions and many changes based on awareness of human factors.

March–April 2004

European Air Traffic Controllers Assert Influence to Prevent Runway Incursions 4 pages. [PDF 67K]

Prevention requires teamwork by controllers, pilots, airport operators and others, but a European action plan also recommends that controllers promote compliance with ICAO standards, correct phraseology and wider use of aviation English.

January–February 2004

Data Limit Ongoing Analysis of ARFF-vehicle Rollover Accidents 4 pages. [PDF 80K]

Preventing lateral loss of control in aircraft rescue and fire fighting vehicles with a high center of gravity can require countermeasures such as vehicle-specific driver-operator training, vehicle-suspension modifications and lateral-acceleration warning devices.