"Incursion Rate Falls at Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Airport"

Saturday, August 2, 2003

Incursion Rate Falls at Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Airport
The South Florida Sun-Sentinel


In the past four years, Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport has developed a
bad reputation for allowing airplanes on the ground to come close to
colliding with one another or airport vehicles.

The busy general aviation airfield had 33 runway incursions, where a person,
vehicle or airplane errantly wanders onto an active runway and in the path
of landing or departing plane. That was among the highest in the nation.

But like most other U.S. airports, Fort Lauderdale Executive has reduced the
number of these incidents, thanks to improved runway markings, awareness
programs and new technology.

Last year, there were nine incursions, seven deemed minor. That is down from
15 the previous year.

Clara Bennett, Executive Airport's acting manager, said the airport has
implemented training programs to make pilots and vehicle drivers more aware
of runway incursions, as well as stricter fence and gate access.

For instance, she said airport vehicles must have special stickers or they
will be shooed out by airport security. Further, she said, the airport makes
sure runway markings and lights are constantly updated.

"We have certain hot spots, where we have lights, called wigwag lights, that
highlight the fact that vehicles are approaching an active runway area," she
said.

Palm Beach International Airport saw an increase in incursions, from two in
2001 to four last year. Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International had two
incursions in both 2001 and 2002. And Miami International saw a decrease,
from three incursions in 2001 to one last year, the Federal Aviation
Administration reported. 

Nationwide, the FAA reported a 17 percent decline in runway incursions, from
407 to 339. None of the near-collisions involved passenger jets. 

The number of serious incidents, where a collision was avoided only because
a plane or vehicle quickly moved out of the way, was cut in half, from 20 to
10 between Oct. 1, 2001 and Sept. 20, 2002.


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