Runway Safety and Controllers

Quarterly Refresher Training for Tower Controllers

To ensure air traffic controllers maintain a high level of runway incursion prevention awareness, the FAA has mandated that runway incursion prevention be included in the quarterly refresher training at every control tower.

Human Factors Air Traffic Control Training

The Office of Safety has developed a one day training course to foster a culture of teamwork in both the terminal and en route environments. Designed to help the controller detect, and correct controller and pilot mistakes before they result in operational errors or collisions.

Computer-Based Instruction (CBI) Courses

57006 - ATC Communications

This course contains a series of exercises that allow the air traffic controller to practice listening, memory, read-back, phraseology, and error recognition skills. Course length: 1 hour.

57025 - Position and Hold

This is a refresher course that covers the procedures and phraseology used to issue a position and hold clearance. The primary audience is air traffic control specialists in the terminal option. Course length: 1 hour.

57030 - Wake Turbulence

This course addresses the procedures to be followed to keep aircraft clear of the turbulent wake of other aircraft. Topics include causes, behavior, and consequences of wake turbulence; the separation rules and control procedures for arriving aircraft; and departing aircraft. Course length: 1 hour.

57035 - Air Traffic Memory Guide

This course is part of a continuing effort to reduce runway incursions. It provides ways for controllers to manage their memory resources and help improve performance. It provides an understanding of the limitations of human memory and suggests ways to supplement and help sustain memory capabilities. Also discussed are ways to deal with distractions in the dynamic tower cab environment, and the use of memory aids is encouraged to supplement working memory. Course length: 1 hour.

57061 - Preventing Runway Incursions

This course is designed to emphasize ATC strategies for preventing runway incursions. Through interactive instruction and exercises, controllers will learn about maintaining tower situational awareness, communications, resources, and error chains. Course length: 4 hours.

57062 - Situational Awareness - Tower

This module will consist of one lesson which will outline the critical elements of a visual and auditory scan of the controller's control area. The lesson will describe how an effective scan can help identify potential static and dynamic "hot spots" in airport operations. The lesson will also demonstrate controller methods for appropriately prioxritizing actions based on the information obtained in an effective scan. Course length: 1 hour.

• Mike Monroney Aeronautical Training Center

Known 'Best Practices' for AIRFIELD SAFETY - Air Traffic Controllers

1. Encourage use of correct terminology and proper voice cadence.
2. Recommend controller usage of the electronic RID (Runway Incursion Device) and the IDS (Information Display System) as an aid to prevent runway incursions. Use the electronic RID with red lamps for runways and amber lights for adjacent areas (mowing, equipment, etc.).
3. Encourage air traffic controllers to tour the airfield, including the runway, taxiway and ramps, during the day, at night and under IMC (instrument meteorological conditions).
4. Encourage locally based organizations to provide familiarization flights for air traffic controllers.
5. Encourage tower cab tours as part of a pilot’s training, driver’s training and tenant familiarity.
6. Eliminate distractions in the operational area.
7. Air traffic and airport operations should meet following each snow removal day and/or any other unusual event to discuss lessons learned.
8. Develop and publish airport diagrams for ALL towered, commercial and busy general aviation airports.
9. Routinely check airport diagrams for accuracy and update as necessary.
10. Know who has access to the airfield.
11. Update the airport remarks section in the Airport Facility Directory with all applicable data including runway safety information.
12. Determine and publish “line-of-sight” restrictions – can aircraft at opposite ends of the runway see each other?
13. Increase awareness and advertise of local wildlife issues.
14. Determine and publish weather phenomena related visibility issues.
15. Inform AFSS if there is a change in runway status.
16. Encourage pilots to turn lights ON during Landing and Departure.
17. Encourage pilots to have their “eyes out” when taxiing.
18. Encourage pilots to have a “heads up” policy when taxiing.
19. Encourage local flight schools to emphasize runway safety during initial and recurrent training & BFR’s.
20. Attend safety seminars and programs on RUNWAY SAFETY.
21. Customize RUNWAY SAFETY presentations for targeted audiences such as pilot organizations, safety seminars, airport authorities, etc.
22. Improve safety by teaching, advocating, stressing and understanding situational awareness.
23. Cite specific airport RUNWAY SAFETY web pages.
24. Use Hot Spot brochures.
25. Distribute RUNWAY SAFETY materials to every aviation entity.
26. Package and distribute runway safety materials to: Flight Schools, Flight Safety International, Maintenance Centers, Aircraft Manufacturers, etc.
27. Realize that every airport is unique and presents its own set of RUNWAY SAFETY challenges.
28. Stay alert; stay alive.
29. Declare war on errors; make it everyone’s responsibility.