In a detailed scenario adapted from Eurocontrol SKYbrary, a runway excursion unfolds due to a series of small but critical human errors during a landing in adverse weather conditions. This incident highlights the ongoing challenge of runway excursions, a significant concern for the aviation industry. According to a 2022 Flight Safety Foundation (FSF) report, runway excursions were the most common cause of airliner accidents from 2017-2021. Addressing this issue, FlightSafety International (FSI) is leveraging real-world data from flight operational quality assurance (FOQA) and pilot psychology studies to enhance runway excursion avoidance training.
Richard Meikle, FSI’s Executive Vice President of Operations and Safety, emphasized the importance of focused training to mitigate runway excursion risks. “If you can reduce the runway excursion risk through focused training and educate crew members on the importance of the techniques to prevent runway excursions, then you dramatically improve safety,” said Meikle.
Insights from FOQA Data
FSI’s partnership with GE Aerospace, established in 2021, aims to gain insights from FOQA data. This data revealed numerous near-miss runway excursions, with aircraft often slowing to turnoff speed with dangerously little runway remaining. The data highlighted the critical role of energy management in avoiding runway excursions. Meikle, a seasoned corporate pilot and FSI customer before joining the company, noted that precision in landing and energy management is crucial. “Energy management keeps the airplane on the pavement,” he said.
Addressing Human Factors
One key finding from the GE Aerospace data is that many pilots attempt to salvage unstable approaches rather than executing a go-around, even when necessary. Industry data shows that only about three percent of unstable approaches result in a go-around, despite the best practice of initiating a go-around if the approach is not stabilized within 1,000 feet of the runway. “There’s a direct correlation between threshold crossing height and touchdown point,” Meikle explained. “The data has shown that pilots trying to get a smooth landing by floating doesn’t always yield that result, however, in every case doing so erodes safety margins.”
Visual Challenges and Training Initiatives
Displaced thresholds, which create optical illusions and complicate landing judgments, were also identified as a significant factor in runway excursions. FSI responded by rolling out “spotlight” sessions in February 2022, focusing on runway excursion prevention in every fixed-wing initial or recurrent course. These sessions, lasting 15 to 20 minutes, included debriefs on the top 10 airports where excursions are most likely to occur.
The Psychology of Go-Arounds
FSI also chartered a study with the Presage Group to examine pilots’ decision-making during go-arounds. This study used Gulfstream 500/600 simulators to simulate various approach conditions, from normal to environmentally challenging. The findings led to the development of optional go-around training courses. “Go-around decision-making is all about how the pilots operate the aircraft,” said Meikle. “You really have to get thrown into those scenarios to practice decision-making skills.”
FSI’s innovative use of FOQA data and pilot psychology studies represents a significant advancement in pilot training. By addressing both technical and human factors, FSI aims to reduce runway excursion incidents, enhancing overall aviation safety.
SOURCE: Flight Safety International.
