Importance of Runway Incursion Mitigation and the Role of Safety Improvements with Perimeter Taxiway Operations at Heathrow Airport

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW1

Runway Incursions1

Types of runway Incursions2

Runway Safety and Luggage handling4

Airport Security6

Trends in Security7

Land and Hold Short Operations (LAHSO)9

PT concept at Heathrow11

Strategies for Reduced Runway Incursion11

Heathrow Airport and Security13

Measures and Parameters of Heathrow Airport Security13

What is CPTED?16

CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY17

Methodological Approach17

Steps in mixed methodology17

Method of Analysis18

Rationale for Mixed Method Research19

Procedure of Primary and Secondary Data Collection20

Instrument for data collection20

Sample of Participants21

Validity21

Ethical Issues22

Advantages and Disadvantages of Mixed Method Research22

Limitations of Research Study23

REFERENCES24

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW

Runway Incursions

The British Aviation Agency published best practices for airfield safety as it pertains to airport personnel driving on the airfield. These best practices focused on safety enhancements with a collaborative effort to improve operations while reducing risk of incursions. Four categories of runway incursions exist ranging from a category A,V,D, with A being the most serious (Barbas, 2007, 64). Airports within the United Kingdom are regulated by the British Aviation Agency. Training is stringent for those personnel responsible for driving in the airfield movement area. Runway security personnel are no different and must complete structured training related to airfield driving; daytime/night time and during inclement weather. An airport the size of Heathrow Airport is specified as an Index E airport within the British Aviation Regulations (BAR). It is mandated that an adequate compliment of Aircraft Rescue Mitigation response be on hand 24/7 meeting the requirements set forth in the British Aviation Regulations. These requirements mandated by the British Aviation Agency are critical in sustaining the airports operational level (Wilson, 2004, 17).

Runway incursion is defined as any unauthorised intrusion onto a runway, regardless of whether or not an aircraft presents a potential conflict (Anagnostakis, 2006, 32). These case studies have been utilised to identify frequency and severity per the BAA incursion rating scale. This is where risk management begins with the control of risk as the key (Candalino, 2004, 53). Reducing the risk of runway incursions has long been the BAA's strategy thus forming the Runway Safety Action Team. This team focuses on case studies related to all incursions nation wide.

Nowhere are airplanes in closer proximity to other airplanes, vehicles, pedestrians, equipment and airport structures than when on the airport surface. Runway incursions can potentially threaten lives of hundreds of people in a single accident. The BAA defines an incursion as, “Any occurrence at an aerodrome involving the incorrect presence of an aircraft, vehicle or person on the protected area of surface designated for the landing and takeoff of aircraft” (Balakrishna, 2008, 53).

Types of runway Incursions

The BAA defines runway incursions under three categories. They are:

Operational error (OE): An OE is the action of an Air Traffic controller that results in, less than minimum separation between two or more aircraft or between aircraft obstacles (vehicles, equipment, personnel on runways) or clearing an aircraft to take off or land on a closed runway. (BAA Order 7110.65) Example: A pilot is asked to cross the departure (active) runway while another aircraft has ...