Reducing Runway Incursions: The Role of Collaboration, Education, and Training

Runway incursions are a major threat to aviation safety and can cause major delays and collisions that have significant human and financial implications for airlines. This study investigated how training, education, and collaboration may be improved to reduce the occurrence of runway incursions at airports. Data collection involved interviews, a focus group, and document analysis to explore the participants’ perceptions. The interviews and focus group involved a purposive sample of 12 pilots, air traffic controllers, airport administrators, and ground personnel. The interviews and focus group transcripts were chunked, coded, and patterns sought to form five key themes addressing the research question: exercising key safety practices, effective communication, a greater focus on scenario-based training, need for greater standardization, and more collaboration and partnership among stakeholders. The findings have the potential to influence Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) decision-making through resource allocation for improving runway safety, as well as to inform the prevention of runway incursions through improvements to education, training, and collaboration

Reducing Runway Incursions: The Role of Collaboration, Education, and Training

Runway incursions are a major threat to aviation safety and can cause major delays and collisions that have significant human and financial implications for airlines. This study investigated how training, education, and collaboration may be improved to reduce the occurrence of runway incursions at airports. Data collection involved interviews, a focus group, and document analysis to explore the participants’ perceptions. The interviews and focus group involved a purposive sample of 12 pilots, air traffic controllers, airport administrators, and ground personnel. The interviews and focus group transcripts were chunked, coded, and patterns sought to form five key themes addressing the research question: exercising key safety practices, effective communication, a greater focus on scenario-based training, need for greater standardization, and more collaboration and partnership among stakeholders. The findings have the potential to influence Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) decision-making through resource allocation for improving runway safety, as well as to inform the prevention of runway incursions through improvements to education, training, and collaboration