25 June 2003
Incursions at UK airports are rising faster than the growth in movements, the CAA has revealed.
Between 1995 and 2001 there were 263 runway incursions of varying degrees of seriousness reported in the UK.
The CAA is so concerned about the problem it has alerted leading airport executives to the need for the industry to act now to cut the number of such incidents.
It has also formed a working group to study the issue and raise its profile in the UK. The Runway Incursion Steering Group is studying several aspects of incursions, including:
<li> airfield markings;
<li> operational procedures;
<li> airside driver training; and
<li> any new technology that may help to reduce the risk
The group is also seeking to raise the awareness of the issue within the UK through posters and other publicity material that will directly target pilots, airport drivers and air traffic controllers.
Speaking at the Airport Operators Association conference in Manchester on Monday (June 23) Richard Taylor, Head of the CAA’s Air Traffic Safety Regulation Operations, said: “Although the number of serious incidents is low, we must not wait for a major incident before we take action.
“In the UK the CAA has now taken a lead in combating runway incursions but, for our efforts to be effective, we need the whole of the UK’s aviation industry to work together to reduce the number of incidents.”
