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NTSB Provides More Details on Landing Distance Safety Recommendations
The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has made seven more specific
recommendations to the FAA regarding landing distance assessments following the
release of its findings on the B-737 landing overrun accident at Chicago's
Midway in December 2005.
Beyond its
recent broad proposal that the FAA require carriers to assess landing
distance requirements before every landing based on the runway conditions
existing at the time, the Broad is specifically recommending that the FAA
require all Part 121 and 135 operators to:
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Ensure that all
on board electronic computing devices they use automatically and clearly display
critical performance calculation assumptions (A-07-58).
-
Provide clear
guidance and training to pilots and dispatchers regarding company policy on
surface condition and braking action reports and the assumptions affecting
landing distance/stopping margin calculations, to include use of airplane ground
deceleration devices, wind conditions and limits, air distance, and safety
margins (A-07-59).
-
Incorporate a
procedure requiring the non-flying (monitoring) pilot to check and confirm the
thrust reverser status immediately after touchdown on all landings on airplanes
equipped with thrust reversers (A-07-60).
-
Establish a
minimum standard for 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 and 135 operators
to use in correlating with an airplane's braking ability to braking action reports
and runway contaminant type and depth reports for runway surface conditions
worse than bare and dry (A-07-63).
-
Demonstrate the
technical and operational feasibility of outfitting transport-category airplanes
with equipment and procedures required to routinely calculate, record, and
convey the airplane braking ability required and/or available to slow or stop
the airplane during the landing roll. If feasible, require operators of
transport-category airplanes to incorporate use of such equipment and related
procedures into their operations (A-07-64).
In
addition, the Board is recommending that the FAA require 91 subpart K
(fractional ownership) operators, as well as Part 121 and 135 carriers, to:
-
Accomplish
arrival landing distance assessments before every landing based on a
standardized methodology involving approved performance data, actual arrival
conditions, a means of correlating the airplane's braking ability with runway
surface conditions using the most conservative interpretation available, and
including a minimum safety margin of 15 percent (A-07-61).
-
Develop and
issue formal guidance regarding standards and guidelines for the development,
delivery, and interpretation of runway surface condition reports (A-07-62).
More information can be found
at
http://www.ntsb.gov/recs/letters/2007. 10-19-2007. |
