Pacts meeting to discuss technology for runway inspections- portcullis house
16 October 2008 - ukfsc ce Meeting summary

Introduction:

Dominic Walker, the Product Development Director for Airport Technology from QinetiQ presented.

· Detection of FOD on runways is the key target of this presentation. Concorde example was used to justify the rationale behind this development.

· Another less well publicized incident involved FOD in Dubai which resulted ultimately into a nose wheel collapse and runway closed for 8 hours.

· Significant costs caused by FOD estimated at $4Bn per year in terms of damage.

· Many sensors already in place at today’s airports - surveillance/ baggage/counter terrorism

· Several current technologies and systems looked at but none met the small object detection requirement.

· New design of radar required with high freq and sensitivity to be effective.

· Also needed to be user friendly and easy to operate

The Solution

· The newly developed solution required a 20 cms object resolution radar.

· The operator is presented with a simple line drawing of the airfield for initial targeting and then the co-ordinates of the object are used to drive a sensitive camera to it thereby allowing a sensible recognition of the cause - wildlife can be detected as easily as FOD.

· Eradication of false alarms has been challenging but the processing is able to address it to a great extent.

· Two units per runway - 3 on long runways

· The system cannot detect runway incursions - it has too slow a rate of scan.

o There are other possible uses - cracks in runways - but not under development right now.

· The night capability includes a laser spotlight but is eye-safe across the entire spectrum

· A Beetle can be seen at 230 metres during testing - thresholds have been raised to cut out incorrect and false targets (insects)

· The Qinetiq system has been installed at Heathrow, Vancouver, Dubai, Boscombe and Doha.

· In 2 years at Vancouver, there have been 265 detections so far from 326 confirmed cases of FOD found.

Regulatory Activity

· ICAO recommend it

· Eurocontrol looking at the technology

· DGAC French are considering it

· Qinetiq frustration that the regulators are not taking this enhancement to safety technology seriously in terms of offsetting regular runway visual inspections for airfields with fod detection fitted.

Engagement - who should Qinetiq talk with it?

· The airlines and airports as well as the regulators including EASA. Aviation Insurers/Lawyers should also be briefed.

· Insufficient proof of FOD damage and costings available from airports from which to argue.

· Ground Handling Contracts - do they include FOD clearance in the airside stand area?

· Offer of a slot at the UKFSC

Rich Jones

Chief Exec

UK Flight Safety Committee

17 Oct 2008