May 25 Incursion Categorized As Level A

The near-collision May 26 on a runway at SFO has been categorized as the most serious of incursions by the FAA, which noted that it is the most serious incident of its kind in at least a decade, reported MediaNews.

The incident involved a Republic Airlines pilot who had to take off to avoid colliding with a SkyWest Airlines plane on the runway.

According to the FAA safety board, the incursion occurred about 1:30 pm when an SFO tower controller cleared SkyWest Airlines Flight 5741 from Modesto to land on runway 28R. The same controller then cleared Republic Airlines Flight 4912 to Los Angeles to take off from runway 1L, which intersects runway 28R.

When the SkyWest plane landed, the Airport Movement Area Safety System alerted the traffic controller that the two airplanes were on a collision course, the safety board said.

The controller then ordered the SkyWest flight to halt short of runway 1L, but the plane couldn't stop until it reached the middle of the runway. The Republic Airlines pilot had to take off to avoid colliding with the SkyWest flight.

According to the SkyWest crew, the Republic Airlines plane flew over it by 30 to 50 feet. The FAA's preliminary report can be found here.

Airport officials are notified about such incursions," SFO spokesman Mike McCarron said, "but there is nothing they can really do unless they involve one of the airport's vehicles, which this didn't.

"Every category A is a serious event, and it is a serious concern for us," said FAA spokesman Ian Gregor. "This wasn't a procedural issue, this was caused by a good controller with a lot of experience making a mistake."

The controller, with about 20 years of experience, was required to be recertified for his job, Gregor said.

Other than the pilots and air traffic controllers, it's doubtful anyone knew about the incursion when it happened, Gregor said, adding that it did not affect SFO operations.

There have been 11 category A incursions nationwide so far this fiscal year, out of more than 34 million takeoffs and landings.

The severity of the SFO incursion has generated an NTSB investigation, as well, as reported by ANN.

"We investigate probably just a handful (of incursions) a year," said safety board spokesman Ted Lopatkiewicz.

The safety board lists runway incursions as one of the most serious transportation safety issues.

As a result, it has recommended that aircraft be equipped with devices such as the Airport Movement Area Safety System and advises pilots not to cross actively used runways without the approval of a controller.

Current regulations do not require pilots to secure clearance to cross each runway while taxiing for take-offs and landings.

"It would slow down the process of taxiing, but we think it would improve safety," Lopatkiewicz said.

NTSB officials said their investigation could be completed in the fall and may result in safety recommendations to the FAA, which isn't required to follow them.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov, www.faa.gov, www.flysfo.com