ANDREW PRENTICE
September 27, 2012
Runway incursion prevention is possible using combination of procedures and technology already in use or available off the shelf.
Incursion problems have in common lack of situation awareness on the part of one or more of the participants. This common thread is communication failure.
The solutions are communication solutions.
Problems:
single transmit frequencies allowed blocked transmissions.
Solution:
separate transmit frequencies
use repeaters for ground control
use multiple input freq
all listen to repeater output
use digital voice mode
each transmitter identifies with unique digital code
all double transmission are recognized and resolved by delayed read back or repeat request
Problem
pilots are lost:
Solution
location technology already in use
hold point traffic signals
wheel/throttle locks enabled by runway transponder
runway occupied warning
Problem
controllers do not know where the planes are
Solution
location technology already in use
hold point traffic signals
naval carrier flight boss/ launch officer command duality in IMC
wheel/throttle locks enabled by transponder
runway occupied warning
All of these things have already been thought of. Many of them are in use other situations. What I find it useful is to mention them all together. None of these solutions require great expense or cumbersome organization. Off the shelf technology could put any of the plans into effect by a team of techno geeks in 72 hrs using stuff from Radio Shack.