The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) in the USA is encouraging members to take part in a survey aimed at lowering the possibility of runway incursions (when an unauthorized aircraft, vehicle or person is on the runway, presenting a safety risk).
The online questionnaire is being conducted throughout April by three universities, funded by the Partnership to Enhance General Aviation Safety, Accessibility and Sustainability (PEGASAS), and is located here.
The survey is primarily aimed at general aviation pilots, as they are said to be involved in at least 80% of all runway incursions. The NBAA insists that input from business aviation pilots is just as valid, however; they may also have experience of airports without control towers, a ground controller or radar coverage, or other conditions – involving various aircraft types or pilot inexperience – that can lead to an incursion taking place.
A report compiled by the NBAA’s Safety Committee, Reducing Business Aviation Runway Excursions, can be found here.
Ben Kohler, CAM, an NBAA Safety Committee member with more than 35 years of flying experience, said “Nobody consciously takes the risk of possibly being involved in a runway incursion, but there are so many factors that come into play. It’s easier to have one of those bite you than you think. Just having a stabilized approach is no guarantee of mitigating or avoiding the risk.”
