Runway Excursion Prevention

What is Runway Excursion Prevention?

Runway excursion prevention in aviation refers to the strategies and procedures used to ensure an aircraft remains within the runway boundaries during takeoff and landing. Excursions can occur if the available runway length is close to or less than what is required for safe operation, especially under challenging conditions such as wet, icy, or otherwise contaminated surfaces.

Causes and Contributing Factors

• Marginal runway length compared to required takeoff or landing distance
• Contaminated or slippery runway surfaces (water, snow, ice, slush)
• Incorrect approach speed, configuration, or poor piloting technique
• Inadequate performance calculations or disregard for current runway conditions

Key Prevention Measures

• Always calculate takeoff and landing performance precisely, factoring in runway condition, wind, temperature, aircraft weight, and contamination
• Use SNOWTAMs and METARs to assess runway contamination and braking action; interpret runway condition codes to determine if the surface is suitable for operation
• Avoid operations from contaminated runways whenever possible; if unavoidable, ensure the depth and type of contamination are within safe limits
• Be prepared to abort takeoff early or go around if a safe landing cannot be assured
• Recognise that for flooded runways, the tire spin-up speed at touchdown is critical for assessing hydroplaning risk

Additional Considerations

• Runway safety procedures may include the use of lead-in lighting systems for visual guidance, particularly where noise abatement routes are in effect
• Noise abatement should never override safety; if surface conditions are poor, always prioritise runway safety over noise considerations

Mitigation and Decision-Making

• Early and accurate assessment of runway suitability is vital
• Pilots must be ready to make timely decisions to reject a takeoff or initiate a go-around if conditions deteriorate or performance margins are insufficient