Introduction
Incidents on the ground or collisions do not represent the most significant percentage of air incidents, but they continue to threaten flight safety. According to the data from the National Transportation Security Board (2022), seven air incidents were associated with ground collisions during 2021. Ensuring flight safety in this area is a part of the coordinated work between the entire airport service team, dispatchers, and crew members.
Definition
A ground collision incident is a collision that occurs while taxiing into or out of a runway. This definition may include a collision with another vehicle, building, person, or object (Cusick et al., 2018). These events predominantly occur within ground handling but do not exclude runway overrun incidents (Cusick et al., 2018). These incidents are categorized as high-risk events because of their possibility and risks of causalities. Collisions in the maneuvering area are often associated with the human factor and may result from a pilot’s error or ground handling.
Scenarios
Aircraft events on the ground can be as risky as incidents and accidents. Many of these emergencies arise from misunderstanding or deliberate non-execution of the dispatcher’s commands (Cusick et al., 2018). An incorrect control decision when clearing a landing or takeoff is also likely. The mistake and uncoordinated work of the crew make a negative contribution to the risk of developing such a dangerous situation. Tragedy scenarios may include the failure of ground team members to clear the runway of foreign objects.
Risk Factors
The probability of an unfavorable resolution of the current scenario depends on the accompanying risk factors. The main threat is the uncoordinated advance work to ensure collision avoidance (Korotonoshko et al., 2021). Risks include violation of docking security, lack of lighting for crew members to maneuver, and provision of unreliable and unverified information. Contributing factors may not depend on people: bad weather and poor visibility, unfamiliarity of the airport, and crew fatigue can provoke errors. Often, these risk factors act together and result from insufficient staff education.
Ground Collision at Los Rodeos Airport
The most significant air crash occurred due to a combination of the above factors, mainly gross violations on the part of the ground support service. Five hundred eighty-three people died in 1977 as a result of a collision between two Boeing-747s at Los Rodeos Airport in the Canary Islands (Blickensderfer et al., 2022). As a result of the risk of a terrorist threat at the main airport of the Canary Islands, the load at the small Los Rodeos was uncommonly high. Dutch and American Boeing-747s and other liners were waiting for permission to take off (Blickensderfer et al., 2022).
The situation was complicated by bad weather and the lack of equipment in Los Rodeos with ground-based light facilities (Blickensderfer et al., 2022). A significant risk was created by the dispatchers’ lack of knowledge of the English language and their inability to work with many foreign flights (Blickensderfer et al., 2022). The dispatchers gave the crews of both aircraft inaccurate instructions, which led to a collision of two liners at takeoff speed in poor visibility.
Human irresponsibility resulted in the preventable death of passengers and crew members. The Bible condemns this approach to duty: “To do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place” (Acts 4:28). This instruction was violated, which led to the tragedy. Attention should also be paid to the overconfidence of the pilots, who were so in a hurry to fly to the destination airport that they did not clarify the ambiguous commands of the dispatchers. The Bible says, “So if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!” (Corinthians 10:12). People should not be overconfident, as they do not influence God’s Will. Avoiding overconfidence, additional checks, and control would have avoided tragedy.
Possible Solutions
Technological Side
Several risk factors need to be addressed when developing a strategy to prevent air accidents on the ground. The technological state of the airport, the coherence and professionalism of the work of dispatchers, and the responsibility of the work of the service support of the airport. Raising the crew members’ awareness of the necessary measures to reduce collisions on the ground is also critical. Technical equipment, including high-quality lighting and means of detecting obstacles in the maneuvering zone, is essential for ensuring safety (Malygin et al., 2020). The illumination of the runway airport equipment and employees’ clothing should always be controlled.
Dispatchers
The ability of dispatchers to correctly respond to challenging situations and prevent them is a characteristic feature of professionalism in aviation security. These employees must be sufficiently stress-resistant and aware of their decisive role in organizing aircraft maneuvering (Blickensderfer et al., 2022). Particular attention should be paid to the ability of dispatchers to work under heavy loads. The number of dispatchers must match the workload of the airport so as not to lose constant vigilance. Dispatchers must insist on the right to the final decision, regardless of the experience and training of the crew members.
Service Crew
The airport technical service must also know the procedure for working on the runway. Their area of responsibility should remain the correct designation of service vehicles and report on the time of work performed (Korotonoshko et al., 2021). Airport maintenance may be the only people aware of the current situation on the runway. There is a need to raise awareness of the importance of effective communication between all employees to achieve the highest level of security.
Aircraft Crew
Finally, the crew can play a severe role in potentially dangerous situations on the ground. Emphasis should be placed on educating crew members that airport controllers make the final decision on maneuvering. Regardless of skill level, familiarity with the airport, and the need to maneuver quickly, it is essential to additionally ensure that the authorization for the action is agreed upon (Cusicket al., 2018). This recommendation should be considered incredibly seriously for the organization of international flights, in which, despite the requirements, not all dispatchers and support services may know English.
Conclusion
Ensuring the safety of flights on the ground is essential. The most significant number of incidents is associated with preventability, resulting from human error while eliminating the technological factor. Insufficient lighting, miscoordination between the crew and despatchers, overconfidence of the crew, and irresponsibility of the ground support service are the main risk factors. Additional education of the ground handling service team, dispatchers, and flight crew can reduce the risks of such emergencies.
References
Blickensderfer, B., Lazzara, E.H., Keebler, J., & Wilson, K. (2022). Human factors in aviation and aerospace. Elsevier Science.
Cusick, S. K., Cortes, A. I., & Rodrigues, C. C. (2018). Commercial aviation safety, 6th edition. McGraw-Hill Education.
Holy Bible. Acts 4:28. English Standard Version. Web.
Holy Bible. Corinthians 10:12. New International Version. Web.
Korotonoshko, A. N., Zatuchny, D. A., Zavalishin, & O. I., Shatrakov, Y. G. (2021). Information support and aircraft flight management. Springer Nature Singapore.
Malygin, I., Borodina, O., & Komashinsky, V. (2020). Decision support systems for ensuring safety of overland traffic at major airports. Transportation Research Procedia, 50(1), 422-429. Web.
National Transportation Safety Board. (2021). Statistical reviews. Web.