The International Air Transport Association (IATA), Civil Air Navigation Services Organization (CANSO) and Airports Council International (ACI) have launched a joint initiative aimed at reducing the risk of runway incursions through improved reporting, stronger local safety teams and greater collaboration across the aviation industry.

A runway incursion occurs when an aircraft, vehicle or person is incorrectly present on a runway or within its protected area. Preventing these events requires coordination among airlines, airports, air navigation service providers, regulators and frontline personnel working in and around active runway environments.

The Joint Runway Safety Initiative will focus on three areas: improving safety reporting and data collection, strengthening Local Runway Safety Teams and sharing lessons learned so effective practices can be adopted across airports and organizations facing similar operational risks.

Improved reporting will include incidents and near misses as well as precursor events and observations from frontline personnel. Local Runway Safety Teams will serve as a forum for airports, airlines, air navigation service providers and other stakeholders to assess site-specific risks and coordinate corrective actions.

“Flying is the safest form of long-distance travel. Maintaining that record requires a relentless focus on continuous improvement, supported by global standards, safety data, and collaboration,” said Nick Careen, IATA senior vice president of operations, safety and security. “This initiative brings airlines, airports, and air navigation service providers together to identify runway risks earlier and take coordinated action.”

The initiative builds on existing industry efforts, including the Global Action Plan for the Prevention of Runway Incursions, developed through collaboration among ICAO, Eurocontrol and the Flight Safety Foundation and endorsed by IATA, ACI and CANSO. It also supports the ICAO Global Runway Safety Action Plan.

IATA, CANSO and ACI will use existing risk-assessment resources, runway safety checklists and support programs for Local Runway Safety Teams to advance the initiative. These include ACI’s Runway Safety Team Implementation Package, the ACI-CANSO Runway Safety Checklist and IATA’s Runway Incursion Safety Risk Assessment, among other tools.

“Runway safety depends on clear communication and coordinated decisions across the airport environment,” said Andrea Sack, CANSO senior vice president of global operations. “Strong Local Runway Safety Teams bring controllers, airports, airlines, and other operational partners together to identify risks and agree practical [actions].”

“Airports sit at the center of this challenge, where every part of the aviation system converges,” said Darryl Dowd, ACI World vice president of safety, security and operations. “Local knowledge and sustained collaboration are what turn safety guidance into real reductions in risk, and ACI is committed to supporting our members as they put these tools to work.”