Sean Broderick's aviation career started in 1991, working for Airbus in Toulouse. His industry experience includes four years with an aviation consultancy, where he worked on the successful launch of a U.S. Part 121 carrier; 12 years with an airport association as a magazine editor and communications executive; and more than 15 years of full- and part-time work as a journalist, writing about air transport and business aviation. &nbsp;
&nbsp;

Writer

Sean Broderick

Runway status light (RWSL) systems rolling out at many large U.S. airports are meeting expectations as an added safety layer, but the FAA is stepping up educational efforts to address confusion about how ATC uses the information they provide. In a nutshell: ATC does not use it.


The agency is aware of several incidents in which pilots saw the lights, which signify that a runway is occupied and an aircraft or vehicle should not proceed, but nonetheless followed ATC instruction to use the runway anyway, believing that ATC’s directives supersede the RWSL system.


“Not all pilots know that ATC has no idea if these lights are on or off during operation,” said Jim Fee, manager of the FAA’s runway safety group, at the Air Charter Safety Symposium on March 7. “Some pilots feel that, ‘ATC must know these lights are on, but they are giving me these instructions anyway.’” &nbsp;He clarified, “It’s not that the tower controller knows better. It’s the exact opposite.”


Designed to meet an NTSB recommendation to provide pilots with direct, real-time warnings that runways are in use, RWSLs are slated to be installed at 17 large-hub airports by next year. Red lights positioned at runway ends and entrances, RWSLs light up when aircraft or vehicles are detected on the runways. The fully&nbsp;automated system relies on surveillance data from several sources, among them&nbsp;Airport Surface Detection Equipment-X, to track surface movement.


RWSLs are meant to be a last line of surface-movement defense in the rare instances that ATC clearances create conflicts, or an aircraft or surface vehicle does not follow instructions. The system is designed to minimize additional controller workload, so its status, which changes constantly as aircraft enter and exit runways, is not indicated in the tower. Because RWSLs are installed to be visible from flight decks—embedded in the airport surface, angled up slightly—most lights cannot be seen by controllers.


The system has prevented several incidents, Fee said, including two saves that required high-speed aborts. In one case, a ground support worker drove onto an active runway, triggering the system as an aircraft was early in its takeoff roll.


“The majority of events that we see are complete saves,” Fee said.


Unsure? Stop and Check


But other incidents have caused concern, such as one last July at Las Vegas&nbsp;McCarran International Airport (LAS). A mainline-carrier narrowbody and a business jet were lined up for takeoff on intersecting runways. As a result of a miscommunication between controllers, both aircraft were cleared for takeoff almost simultaneously.


The airliner rolled first, and the RWSLs on the business jet’s runway illuminated. The business jet began its takeoff, however, and both flight crews executed an ATC-coordinated emergency procedure in which one aircraft climbed rapidly and the other stayed low to create needed separation at the intersection.


Communication between the business jet crew and ATC immediately after the incident made it clear that the pilots saw the warning lights. But they assumed the controller knew the lights were on when he issued&nbsp;the takeoff clearance. “[LAS] is not the only event we’ve had like this,” Fee said, noting that the agency stepped up its outreach after the incident. “It’s not a perfect system, but the data we’re getting shows it’s an effective one.”


What should pilots do when RWSLs contradict the tower’s instruction? “The best action is to stop and question ATC,” Fee said.

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

FAA Concerned about Runway Status Light Confusion

RWSLs are meant to be a last line of surface-movement defense.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Kerry Lynch

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Montreal airframer will host flight attendant summit in Hong Kong

Bombardier Grows Safety Forums on Success of Standdown

AmyWilder

New developments at airports including regulations and noise issues; legal disputes; openings, acquisitions and mergers.

Safety investigations launched following close call

NTSB Prelim Details A319/King Air Incursion at KDCA

Stuart “Kipp” Lau

News about simulators and training procedures, as well as workforce.

How a positive safety culture contributes to an effective SMS 

AINsight: PB&J, SMS, and Safety Culture

Jessica Reed

News about significant aircraft accidents and information from accident reports.

Flight attendant received the Above and Beyond Award for Heroic Achievement

NBAA Honors Sydney Bosmans for Heroism in Fatal Crash

Curt Epstein

AI will reach every sector of the industry

Artificial Intelligence Looms Large in Bizav's Future

Hanneke Weitering

News and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

Twenty airlines and 25 corporate flight departments are using electronic flight bag software

GE Aerospace's FlightPulse Pilot App Surpasses 40,000 Users

One update is the “Quick FRAT” (Flight Risk Assessment Tool)

Nimbl Enhances Platform to Simplify Safety Management

Charles Alcock

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

More In Safety