Would a signal light help with runway incursions? (FAA)

[Wartrace]

Seems like we are experiencing a lot of runway incursions lately. The latest incident in Japan is a good example. Coast guard plane enters a runway while another plane is landing.

Do you think a signal light could have prevented this collision? Rather than relying solely on radio communications would a simple stop/go light have helped?

[Andrew in Minnesota]

Originally Posted by Wartrace

Seems like we are experiencing a lot of runway incursions lately. The latest incident in Japan is a good example. Coast guard plane enters a runway while another plane is landing.

It does? What's 'a lot'? Is this just an impression from headlines, or is it actually so?

For Fiscal 2023, the United States did experience more runway incursions than in Fiscal 2022. However, the increase was less than 2% (see below). And that's sheer totals. What is the percentage change? 2022 enplanements still hadn't recovered from the collapse of air travel during COVID - they were below the number for 2015 and down more than 15% still from 2019. However, they were up more than 11% from 2021. Though there is no complete 2023 data (too early), partial data and the post-COVID trend compared to 2019 totals strongly suggests that flights are up well more than 2%, meaning the annual 2% increase in runway incursions in Fiscal 2023 probably represents a frequency decline.

https://www.faa.gov/airports/runway_...=2023&fy2=2022
[url-airline-domestic-passenger-enplanements-since-2004/[/url]]https://www.statista.com/statistics/197790/us
https://www.iata.org/en/pressroom/20...2019%20results.

Data matters. Policy should not be made because something 'seems' to be happening 'a lot'.

Originally Posted by Wartrace

Do you think a signal light could have prevented this collision? Rather than relying solely on radio communications would a simple stop/go light have helped?

You mean RSWL? Runway status lights are a thing and have been for decades. So are VMS (variable message signs). Haneda was the very first Japanese airport to get the latter - way back in 2012.

This incident happened two days ago. Perhaps we should await JTSB's determinations.

[RetireinPA]

Originally Posted by Wartrace

Seems like we are experiencing a lot of runway incursions lately. The latest incident in Japan is a good example. Coast guard plane enters a runway while another plane is landing.

Do you think a signal light could have prevented this collision? Rather than relying solely on radio communications would a simple stop/go light have helped?

you mean like they use for trains? ;-)










ps: saw a hearing yesterday where they state there were signal lights and they had been inop for over a year.

[burdell]

Originally Posted by RetireinPA

you mean like they use for trains? ;-)

ps: saw a hearing yesterday where they state there were signal lights and they had been inop for over a year.

Driving into Gibraltar there used to be a regular traffic light for cars as the road crossed their only runway. I believe it's now be changed with the road passing underneath the runway.

[highlanderfil]

Originally Posted by burdell

I believe it's now be changed with the road passing underneath the runway.

I walked that road less than a year ago. Unless the change happened since last May, it's still the same as it has always been.

[motormaker]

This one?

https://www.gibraltarairportguide.co...irport-runway/