Runway Excursions: Make it Stop!

Presented by: Paul S. Ratté, United States Aircraft Insurance Group

Recommended for: Aviation Managers and Pilots

Wednesday, October 31, 2018

13:00 - 14:45

Thursday, November 1, 2018 - *Live Webcast*

15:15 - 17:00

This session’s focus is on actively lowering runway excursion risk in your flight operation. Weather, operating to ‘acceptable but tight fit’ runways, the runway surface and accuracy of its reported condition, state of aircraft systems, and the approach and landing technique used are just some of a host of factors that can conspire to raise the risk of an excursion. When they do, they rapidly boost the criticality of judgment and flight crew performance required. The insidious complexity of many risk elements comingling may be why, despite strong efforts by aviation safety groups over many years, runway excursions continue to occur worldwide and remain a top safety concern. What practical markers can help illuminate the elevated risk well before a tense fight between momentum, friction, and that rapidly-approaching airport fence breaks out on the runway? What organizational culture and policy adjustments can help tame this dynamic group of threats and consistently trigger the right actions to improve the safety margin? Industry mishap trend information will frame the runway excursion issue across aviation today and identify key factors. Stabilized approach and landing criteria, along with runway condition reporting will be discussed. Case studies will provide insight into how runway excursion risks escalate, how aviation human factors tie-in, and point the way to some practical countermeasures. With improved recognition of runway excursion risk factors, flight crews and flying organizations can implement defenses to improve pre-descent preparations and optimize crew performance.