MANOEUVRING AREA SAFETY TEAM – HEATHROW MEETING

HEATHROW POINT WEST – 6 AUGUST 2008

 

CE UKFSC MEETING SUMMARY

 

The Manoeuvring Area Safety Team is chaired by the BAA Airside Operations Manager at Heathrow and meets regularly to address the major safety issues across most disciplines and areas which impact on aircraft operations and movements on the airport.
Terms of Reference for the MAST.

Agenda for the 6 August 2008.

 

Item 2 - The MAST has developed a Strategic Plan to steer its work and to identify clear objectives and action plans to address key safety concerns.

 

The major topics and issues to arise from the meeting were as follows:

 

·                    Item 2 - Runway incursions continue to be a major focus –  A runway incursion map which identifies the positions of the previous rolling year’s incursions will be produced for the MAST.

 

·                    Item 3 - Feedback on safety issues identified from the airline/cockpit will form an important input for the MAST. UKFSC UK and Overseas Members utilising HTW will be asked to provide comments and concerns for onward transmission to the MAST. I offered the following 3 observations from Heathrow users from recent UKFSC SIE meetings:

 

o       Incidents around the stand areas highlight the need to improve ramp management and communication between pilots and ramp staff.

o       Taxiway signage, complex taxi patterns and taxi pattern phraseology were areas requiring attention in order to minimise the opportunities for runway incursions and taxiway errors.

o       Flight crews, particularly those who use HTW less frequently, are cognisant of the increased cockpit workload generated by the airspace complexities and increased traffic flows at HTW.

 

·                    Item 4 - The Chief Inspector of Heathrow Aviation Police briefed on his responsibilities. Of a number of policing tasks, the terrorist threat to HTW is of prime concern and is considered severe. There are up to 580 police assigned to HTW and some 85 vehicles involved.

 

In questions the Inspector provided some useful feedback on their policy for handling illegal immigrants, disruptive airline passengers and smokers; for example, each airline has differing policies towards such passengers and the HTW police are keen to establish protocols between themselves and the airlines in order that these incidents are dealt with effectively and efficiently.

 

·                    Item 5 - A particular problem with incursions around the A3 intersection at HTW was discussed. A ‘van run’ with pilots, BAA and NATs personnel had been organised and a solution enacted in form of new clearer signage at A3 – feedback is invited from UKFSC Members on its effectiveness.  

 

·                    Item 5 – BAA are keen to receive flight deck inputs on signage generally including worn or inadequate markings, either directly or through the UKFSC.

 

·                    Item 5 – Further ‘van runs’ will considered in September, for which support from UKFSC Members will be sought. Inputs from UK and overseas pilots and map and charts production reps will be important. The latter input will be key, since they should be able to advise on best practice amongst airlines on ramp chart layout and marking.

 

·                    Item 6 – The NATS operational analysis team provide their findings from Taxiway Error Trials held early this year at HTW and Manchester. This has produced some invaluable pointers towards an action plan. BAA and NATS wish to spend a little more time to analyse the findings in greater detail before coming back to the MAST with solutions.

 

·                    Item 7 – As part of a series of actions to reduce the potential and opportunities for runway incursions, the BAA have commenced a trial fitment of transponders to their airside vehicles. This enables labelling of vehicles on the surface movement radar display. Other operators of airside vehicles may also be eligible for transponder fitment.

 

 

·                    Item 8 – Brief on the aims and objectives of the UKFSC.

 

·                    Item 9 – Under this topic, members of the MAST are invited to highlight any technology they have encountered which could aid in the reduction of runway incursions. NATs introduced a system of lighting installed on the runway at Fort Worth to warn taxing aircraft when the runway is occupied. Since its introduction there have been no runway incursions. The CE UKFSC described another system, also under evaluation at Fort Worth, which causes the papis to flash if the runway is occupied. Lastly, a series of radio loops at taxiway/runway which transmit ‘runway approaching’ warnings on the ground marker frequency to aircraft has been installed at Manchester.

 

·                    Under AOB, the Menzies Aviation Rep raised the issue of pushback clearance approval at Heathrow. At a number of German airports, the responsibility for obtaining pushback clearance lays with the tug driver rather than the aircraft Captain. In subsequent discussion it appears that Gatwick are about to introduce this procedure. The MAST undertook to investigate its potential for HTW. 

 

·                    Under AOB, the Menzies Rep also expressed his concern about incidents around the ramp and stand areas when incorrect procedures had led to unsafe incidents. He sought advice on how best to raise these occurrences without alienating Menzies’ customer airlines.   The CE UKFSC offered up the regular UKFSC SIE meetings as the ideal opportunity to engage client airline FSOs with his concerns, under confidential or informal conditions.

 

 

 

 RICH JONES

CHIEF EXECUTIVE

UK FLIGHT SAFETY COMMITTEE