The number of serious runway incursions at airports dropped 50 percent from 2009, according to a report released Oct. 8 by the Federal Aviation Administration.
The number of serious runway incursions dropped from 12 in fiscal year 2009 to six in FY 2010, which ended Sept. 30. Three of the six incursions involved commercial aircraft.
According to a press release, FAA officials credited the results to intensive efforts to improve runway safety, such as installation of new technology at airports, expanded requirements for improved signage and marking at airports, and improved pilot training on runway conflict scenarios.
FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt on Oct. 8 announced that new runway status lights systems, which warn pilots of potential runway incursions or collisions through a network of red lights in the airfield pavement, will be installed at 23 airports next year. The new technology currently is used at airports in Boston, Dallas/Fort Worth, San Diego and Los Angeles.
