The LEX Incident …

… is at once a tragedy and a lesson (re)learned. The crash of Comair Delta Flight 5191 killed 49 of 50 persons on board; it appears pilot error was the cause, as the jet departed the wrong and shorter runway at Lexington on its way to Atlanta. One question to be answered: Was there confusion in the cockpit because of recent changes in taxiway procedures due to construction? George Vickas is a veteran of airfield operations at O’Hare International, and today contracts to teach about runway incursions and navigation to companies doing construction work on the airfield. Vickas is also the owner of Chicago-based P3 Technologies, which offers an anti-runway incursion product for this and other applications.  Lexington’s airport had recently undergone runway rehabilitation; for airports, heightening awareness of the users is a critical component of safety. Vickas says he wonders what type of emphasis is placed in pilot training for AOA operations. “I wish I knew more about the pilot training for the AOA,†he says. “We know they get their ratings for flying in the air, but what kind of training do they get for operating on the AOA?†It’s something, he says, that FlightSafety and others might want to explore further.  His central message to airports regarding airfield construction: educate the contractors. “They’re just as important as the airport, the airlines, and anybody else on the airfield.â€Â  Thanks for reading. jfi