FAA Warns Against Wrong-Surface Landings
In the last two years, 596 aircraft in the U.S. landed or almost landed on the wrong runway or wrong airport, and 85 percent of those events involved general aviation aircraft, according to the FAA. At a recent Safety Summit held in Leesburg, Virginia, the FAA said these types of incidents are one of the top five hazards in aviation.

In the last two years, 596 aircraft in the U.S. landed or almost landed on the wrong runway or wrong airport, and 85 percent of those events involved general aviation aircraft, according to the FAA. At a recent Safety Summit held in Leesburg, Virginia, the FAA said these types of incidents are one of the top five hazards in aviation. "I'm asking each of you to make this a priority," FAA Acting Administrator Daniel Elwell said at the meeting, according to a report by NBAA. In a recent Safety Alert for Operators (PDF), the FAA cited several best practices for pilots to ensure they are lining up on the correct runway, such as checking Notams, stabilizing the approach, making good use of the available technology and being ready to go around if needed.
The probability of being involved in a wrong-surface event is highest when operating in visual conditions, according to the FAA, and more than 90 percent of the incidents occur in daylight. Airfield geometry, communications and expectation bias also play a role. About 75 percent of incidents involve parallel runways, and parallel taxiways also can cause confusion. At the summit, Teri Bristol, chief operating officer at the FAA's Air Traffic Organization, said pilots need to be aware of the issue. "We've had some close calls, and we're very concerned," she said. The NTSB will release its final report later this month on the near-miss in San Francisco last year when an A320 crew lined up on a taxiway instead of the runway.
