Runway Safety & Visual Aids Management

Sofema Aviation Services (SAS) www.sassofia.com considers how crucial it is to effectively manage runway safety and visual aids to ensure safe and compliant aerodrome operations.

By ensuring ICAO & EASA standards and best practices, aerodrome operators can address challenges, reduce the risk of runway incidents, and improve the reliability of visual aids, thereby enhancing overall operational safety and ensuring safe, efficient, and compliant operations.

Runway safety and visual aids management are integral components of aerodrome operations under EASA regulations. Compliance with these standards ensures that aerodromes operate safely and efficiently, reducing the risk of accidents and incidents. The focus on preventing runway incursions and excursions and ensuring optimal visibility through advanced visual aids and lighting systems highlights EASA’s commitment to maintaining high safety standards at aerodromes across Europe.

Runway Safety

Runway safety is a critical concern at EASA-compliant aerodromes due to the potential risks associated with runway operations, such as runway incursions, excursions, and confusion. EASA’s regulations and guidance provide a comprehensive framework for ensuring the safety of runways.

Key Components of Runway Safety:

• Runway Incursion Prevention:?EASA emphasizes the importance of preventing runway incursions, which occur when an unauthorized aircraft, vehicle, or person is on the runway. To mitigate this, aerodromes must have clear and effective signage, lighting, and markings. Advanced surface movement guidance systems (ASMGCS) are also recommended to monitor and manage runway traffic.
• Runway Excursion Prevention:?This involves preventing aircraft from veering off or overshooting the runway during takeoff or landing. EASA promotes the implementation of adequate runway end safety areas (RESA) and the use of grooved or porous friction course surfaces to improve braking performance.
• Runway Condition Reporting:?Accurate and timely reporting of runway conditions, especially during adverse weather, is crucial. EASA has established a standardized system for assessing and reporting runway conditions, known as the Global Reporting Format (GRF). This ensures that pilots have the necessary information to make informed decisions.
• Wildlife Hazard Management:?Wildlife strikes pose a significant threat to runway safety. EASA requires aerodromes to implement wildlife hazard management plans, which include measures to reduce the attractiveness of the airport environment to wildlife and active wildlife control procedures.
• Runway Safety Teams (RST):?EASA encourages the establishment of Runway Safety Teams at aerodromes. These teams consist of representatives from air traffic control, airlines, ground handling, and the airport operator. Their role is to identify and mitigate runway safety risks through regular reviews and safety enhancement initiatives.
• Runway Hot Spots:

>> Specific areas on the aerodrome, known as hot spots, have a higher risk of incursions or collisions.

>> These areas require heightened attention and are often challenging to manage due to their inherent design or traffic flow patterns.

>> Once hot spots are identified, strategies such as additional visual aids, awareness campaigns, and redesigning problematic areas should be implemented to reduce risks.

• Runway End Safety Areas (RESA):

>> RESAs are designed to minimize risks when an aircraft overruns or undershoots a runway.

>> Ensuring that these areas are sufficiently long and properly graded presents significant challenges, especially at older aerodromes not originally designed with these safety measures in mind.

Visual Aids Management

Visual aids play a vital role in ensuring that pilots can navigate and operate safely within the aerodrome environment. EASA’s regulations outline the standards for visual aids to enhance situational awareness and ensure safe operations during various weather conditions.

Key Components of Visual Aids Management:

• Runway and Taxiway Lighting:?EASA sets specific requirements for runway and taxiway lighting to ensure visibility during low-light conditions. This includes the installation of high-intensity runway lights, taxiway edge lights, and stop bars. Precision Approach Path Indicators (PAPI) are also mandated to provide visual glide slope guidance to pilots.
• Approach Lighting Systems (ALS):?EASA regulations require the installation of approach lighting systems that guide pilots during the final approach phase, especially in poor visibility conditions. These systems are designed to be visible from a significant distance and provide critical information about alignment and descent rate.
• Signage and Markings:?Proper signage and markings are essential for safe aerodrome operations. EASA mandates the use of standardized markings for runways, taxiways, and aprons, including mandatory instruction signs, direction signs, and location signs. These markings help prevent runway incursions and ensure safe ground movement.
• Visual Docking Guidance Systems (VDGS):?VDGS is used to aid in the safe and precise parking of aircraft at gates. These systems provide visual cues to pilots, ensuring they park correctly and avoid collisions with ground infrastructure.
• Instrument Landing Systems (ILS) and CAT III Operations:?For aerodromes supporting low-visibility operations, EASA requires the implementation of Instrument Landing Systems (ILS) that allow for precision approaches. Category III (CAT III) operations, which enable landings in very low visibility, necessitate more advanced visual aids and lighting systems to ensure safe operations.
• Maintenance and Inspection:?Visual aids must be regularly maintained and inspected to ensure they are functioning correctly.

>> Visual aids must remain effective in all weather conditions, including low visibility scenarios. Maintaining visibility and accuracy during adverse weather is a constant challenge

>> Visual aids, such as runway lights, signs, and markings, require regular maintenance to ensure they function correctly. Issues such as misalignment, wear and tear, and environmental factors (e.g., frost, heavy rain) can degrade their effectiveness

• Technological Integration:

>> Integrating advanced visual aid technologies with existing systems, such as runway guard lights and visual docking guidance systems, requires careful planning and testing to ensure compatibility and reliability

• Advanced Surface Movement Guidance and Control System (A-SMGCS):?This system integrates various sensors and visual aids to manage the movement of aircraft and vehicles on the ground.

>> EASA recommends A-SMGCS for larger aerodromes to improve situational awareness and reduce the risk of runway incursions.

• LED Lighting Technology:?EASA encourages the adoption of LED lighting systems for runway and taxiway lighting. These systems are more energy-efficient and provide better visibility and reliability compared to traditional lighting technologies.

Next Steps

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Sofema Aviation Services Provides Regulatory Training covering Airside Safety. For questions and comments, please email [email protected].