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Runway Run-Ins Remain Big Problem

By Dan Schlossberg
ConsumerAffairs.com

June 28, 2007

There were 31 mishaps or near-misses on airport runways last year, according to the Federal Aviation Administration, and recent reports suggest the 2007 figure could jump.

Planes operated by SkyWest and Republic came periously close to a runway collision in San Francisco May 26 after an air traffic controller gave the green light to both – on intersecting runways. Heeding the warning of a radar system, the Republic plane took off early, missing the landing SkyWest plane by as little as 30 feet, according to the National Transportation Safety Bureau (NTSB).

Earlier this year, there were two incidents at Denver International.

In the first, a Frontier Airlines jet trying to land missed a charter plane by about 50 feet after the smaller plane meandered onto the landing runway by mistake.

A few weeks later, a landing United plane missed a snowplow by some 200 feet – still a very close call.

NTSB chairman Mark Rosenker says ground safety systems are needed at both large and small airports – and he hopes for action by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) before a real crash occurs.

Runway incursions occur most often after dark or during stormy conditions but can occur anywhere and at any time, especially when control towers are short-staffed or operated by fatigued controllers.

On the plus side, the number of incidents was done considerably last year from the 2001 total of 53.

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