A publication of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association
Issue link: http://natca.uberflip.com/i/696483
RUNWAY SAFETY: Bridget Gee (DFW) is NATCA's Runway Safety Act ion Team (RSAT) Representative. She also serves as the Article 48 Representative to the Runwa y Status Lights (RWSL) Program. Below is her report to the membership Runway Status Lights (RWSL): ORD: Being conducted in three phases: Phase 1, Runway 10L/28R, was turned online April 27, 2016. Phase 2 and 3 are scheduled to come online 2017. • Phase 1 (10L/28R): Initial Operating Capability (IOC) took place 4/27/16. • Phase 2 (10C Enhanceme nt) – Date shift due to south airfield shelter. Completion now scheduled for Spring 2017. • Phase 3 (9R Enhancement) - scheduled to begin Spring 2017. DTW: Hardware issues fixed and Commissioning was 4/20/16. Phase 2 (21L): Circuits to be installed Fall 2016 or later EWR: Joint Acceptance Inspection (JAI) and ORD completed 4/12/16. Commissioning planned for 5/17/16. BWI: Construction is ongoing. System set to come online in 2017. SFO: Installation is complete with the exception of fixtures, due to be delivered July 2016. IOC planned for Nov 2016. JFK: ORD declared on 6/8/16. System operating well. BOS/DFW: Work is ongoing to secure funding from the Agency and agreements with the airport operators at BOS and DFW. JRC scheduled for September 2016. R unway Safety Runway Incursion Device (RID)/Runway Incursion Prevention Device (RIPD) SRMP: • The SRMP panel was completed for the removal of the RID/RIPD systems from facilities. The panel followed the Agency's SMS 4.0 process to evaluate the risk associa ted with the removal of the RID/RIPD. A thorough description of the process will be contained in the SRMD. The Agency provided no statistical difference in the rate of runway incursions caused by an Operational Incident (OI) at known RID/RIPD airports. The provided data consisted of one year. The panel agrees that the RID/RIPD is a good tool as it is just as effective as other tools used in the NAS. In light of new data/information that the panel did not have, a follow - up to the original panel via telcon wa s conducted on 5/12/16 to discuss the new information. During the call, Ric Loewen and Bridget Gee brought up several key elements but are not limited to: the RID to surface memory aid change is different than adding a requirement because non - RID facilitie s are accustomed to confirming runway status with a scan of memory aids in the tower while RID facilities are accustomed to an audible reminder when they key the mic making the learning curve and associated change risk higher. The fact that the data doesn' t reflect the success rate of the RIDs as reported by facility personnel. The fact that the change proponent can't show the supposed risk to the NAS caused by a system that has been plugged in since 1988. An additional call took place on June 8. The data p rovided by the Facility Representatives of the facilities that would be