Runway Incursion Database Business Rules

 

The FAA Office of Runway Safety is responsible for determining whether an occurrence

at an aerodrome is a runway incursion and/or surface incident. Only surface events at

airports with an operating Airport Traffic Control Tower are recorded and classified as

runway incursions and surface incidents. The FAA Air Traffic Organization does not

control aircraft movement where an ATCT is not present. Surface events are reported by

the Airport Traffic Control Tower where the event occurred. FAA directives provide the

guidance and requirements for reporting these events.

 

Runway incursions are classified into the following types:

 

Loss of Standard Separation - A surface event attributed to Air Traffic Control

Tower action or inaction (see FAA Order 7210.56, Air Traffic Quality Assurance,

for the official definition).

 

Pilot Deviation - An incursion caused by a pilot or other person operating an

aircraft under it’s own power (see FAA Order 8020.11, Aircraft Accident and

Incident Notification, Investigation and Reporting for the official definition).

 

Vehicle/Pedestrian Deviation - An incursion caused by a vehicle driver or

pedestrian (see FAA Order 8020.11, Aircraft Accident and Incident Notification,

Investigation and Reporting for the official definition).

 

Other - Incursions which cannot clearly be attributed to a mistake or incorrect

action by an air traffic controller, pilot, driver or pedestrian will be classified as

“other”. These events would include incursions caused by equipment failure or

other factors.

 

The Office of Runway Safety will analyze all surface events when initially reported and

make a preliminary determination of whether the event is a runway incursion or surface

incident. The surface incident or runway incursion will then be classified as an

operational error, pilot deviation, or vehicle pedestrian deviation. The determination and

classification of runway incursions will be confirmed and made final by the Director of

Runway Safety at the same time the severity ranking is finalized. The preliminary

determination and classification of surface incidents will become final after 90 days

unless data is received which justifies a second review.

 

Runway incursions are assessed by the Office of Runway Safety and classified by the

severity of the event. In fiscal year 2008, the FAA adopted the ICAO definition for a

runway incursion as well as the ICAO severity category definitions.

 

Runway Incursion: Any occurrence at an aerodrome involving the incorrect

presence of an aircraft, vehicle, or person on the protected area of a surface

designated for the landing and take-off of aircraft.

 

Runway The Severity Classifications are:

 

Accident - An incursion that results in a collision. For the purposes of tracking

incursion performance, an accident will be treated as a Category A runway

incursion.

 

Category A - A serious incident in which a collision was narrowly avoided.

 

Category B - An incident in which separation decreases and there is a significant

potential for collision, which may result in a time critical corrective/evasive

response to avoid a collision.

 

Category C - An incident characterized by ample time and/or distance to avoid a

collision.

 

Category D - An incident that meets the definition of a runway incursion such as

incorrect presence of a single vehicle/person/aircraft on the protected area of a

surface designated for the landing and take-off of aircraft of aircraft but with no

immediate safety consequences.

 

Category E - An incident in which insufficient or conflicting evidence of the

event precludes assigning another category.

 

Factors affecting the severity of a runway incursion include: proximity of the aircraft

and/or vehicle; Geometry of the encounter; evasive or corrective action; available

reaction time; environmental conditions; and factors that affect system performance.