Flight Safety Foundation Airport Operations 2005

These publications are in Acrobat^® Portable Document Format (PDF) and require a copy of Adobe Reader^®. If you do not have a copy of Adobe Reader, you can download and install a free copy from http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2_allversions.html.

January–February 2006

Incident Over London Leads ATC to Reconsider Radar-vectoring Policy 4 pages. [PDF 95K]

When a flight crew communicated concerns about three operative engines after failure of the no. 1 engine on their Boeing 747 cargo aircraft, air traffic controllers’ responses reflected unresolved issues in judging risks to people on the ground, said the U.K. Air Accidents Investigation Branch.

November–December 2005

Commercial Air Navigation Services Aim to Combine Operational Efficiency With Safety 4 pages. [PDF 72K]

Based on data from five non-U.S. commercial air navigation service providers, the U.S. Government Accountability Office found that several safety indicators remained the same or improved, when compared with earlier periods of ownership/operation by national governments. Dependence on commercial revenue requires providers to anticipate and mitigate risks from economic downturns, however.

September–October 2005

Crew Lands B-777 on Runway Section Closed for Construction 6 pages. [PDF 171K]

The flight crew had received several advisories about displaced-threshold operations at the New Zealand airport. The aircraft was observed on a low approach by the work-party coordinator, who kept the workers clear of the construction area.

July-August 2005

U.K. Government–Industry Partnership Targets London Airspace Infringements 8 pages. [PDF 68K]

The initiative has identified causal factors, emphasized procedural compliance and worked to improve communication between general aviation aircraft pilots and air traffic controllers. An independent Internet site enables stakeholders to monitor the results.

May–June 2005

Noise-abatement Procedures Require Periodic Risk Assessment 6 pages. [PDF 109K]

European authorities typically require airport managers, air traffic controllers and aircraft operators to reduce aircraft noise through operating procedures and other methods. Demonstration flights and flight-data monitoring could help determine if noise-related operating constraints conflict with safety objectives, said the U.K. Civil Aviation Authority.

March–April 2005

Training Deficiency Leaves Catering Driver Unprepared to Resolve Disorientation 4 pages. [PDF 68K]

During takeoff, an Airbus A330 passed directly over a motor vehicle that inadvertently was being operated on the same runway. Although experienced and authorized to drive on parts of the Sydney International Airport movement area, the driver had neither a two-way radio nor guidance for this situation, said the Australian Transport Safety Bureau.

January–February 2005

Disagreements About Deicing, Post-deicing Inspection Contribute to Serious Incident 4 pages. [PDF 70K]

Citing inadequate procedures for contracting airport ground services, the Italian Air Safety Board said that the flight crew of a Fokker 70 did not recognize that the wings were cold-soaked, suspect formation of clear ice or inspect the upper-wing surface before takeoff.