Notes 16 Aircraft Slid Off Pavement In One-Month Period

At best, it's embarrassing; at worst, it's potentially life-threatening. We're referring to when an airliner slides off a slick runway or taxiway... and, the FAA says, it happened 16 times at US airports over a 31-day period this winter.

On Friday, the agency issued its second Safety Alert for Operators (SAFO) of 2009, emphasizing the importance of pilots' and dispatchers' preflight and in-flight planning for winter airport operations during taxi, takeoff, and landing.

The SAFO elaborates on the previously published, SAFO 08012 regarding ground operations during snow and ice conditions.

From December 17, 2008 to January 18, 2009, the FAA says it received 16 incident reports of commercial or corporate airplanes that departed airport paved surfaces during taxi, takeoff or landing. These incidents involved factors such as loss of stopping capability, loss of steering control, speeds greater than surface friction conditions permitted, or reduced visibility of surface markings and signage.

Investigation of these events indicated several factors were involved in causing those incidents... and the SAFO offers suggestions for pilots, airport personnel and air traffic controllers to decrease the chances of an inadvertent runway or taxiway excursion.

Those recommendations include better dissemination of NOTAM information by pilots and dispatchers, to airport personnel and ATC keeping a closer eye on deteriorating pavement conditions during wintry weather.

FMI: Read The SAFO (.pdf)