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American Morning

FAA Says Runway Incursions Continuing Problem at U.S. Airports

Aired June 27, 2001 - 09:08   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Risky runways -- the FAA says runway incursions are on the rise nationwide. That's a problem that could cost hundreds of lives.

CNN's Patty Davis joins us now from one of the nation's busiest airports: Reagan National. She's got the latest for us -- morning.

PATTY DAVIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Morning, Leon.

Well, the FAA says that runway incursions so far this year are running at about the same pace that they did last year. That's 201 compared to 202. The agency says it is frustrated that it's not been able to turn that number around and came under intense criticism on Capitol Hill yesterday.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(voice-over): The runway at Chicago's O'Hare Airport, April 1, 1999.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Stop!

DAVIS: An air traffic controller tries to prevent a collision between two 747 jumbo jets after one mistakenly taxis onto an active runway.

A Korean Air 747, speeds toward takeoff, forced to lift off early and banks to the left to avoid a collision. The FAA says incursions, or close calls on runways, are on the rise nationwide, now averaging more than one a day. The FAA's answer, a software system called AMASS, or Airport Movement Area Safety System. It uses radar to alert controllers to potential collisions and has just gone on-line at San Francisco International Airport.

SCOTT SPEER, ASSISTANT AIR TRAFFIC MANAGER, SAN FRANCISCO: It's the first surface detection equipment that really gives an alert to the controller and allows the controller to prevent a collision.

DAVIS: Only San Francisco and Detroit have the technology so far. Thirty-two of the nation's biggest airports are next. But a federal transportation watchdog told a House panel AMASS is too little, too late.

REP. WILLIAM LIPINSKI (D), ILLINOIS: Mr. Mead, do you have confidence that the AMASS will work and that controllers will use the system?

KENNETH MEAD, INSPECTOR GENERAL, TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT: No.

DAVIS: Six years overdue and tens of millions of dollars over budget, the system has been plagued by false alerts. While the FAA is focusing on helping controllers prevent accidents, the Transportation Department's inspector general and the National Transportation Safety Board say more needs to be done to prevent pilot error, which accounts for 60 percent of runway incidents.

CAROL CARMODY, NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION AND SAFETY BOARD: Unless much is done, more is done soon to prevent runway incursions, it's just a matter of time before we have a disastrous runway collision.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

DAVIS: Now, even the FAA admits that AMASS, that new system, is not the entire answer. They're saying that human error is the big factor here. And what the agency is trying to do improve markings on runways, lighting on runways so pilots can see where they're going, also train workers at airports so they know not to go out onto runways or get into airplane's way. The FAA says, though, that this issue is its top priority -- Leon.

HARRIS: All right. Patty Davis reporting live this morning from Washington. Thank you.

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