Equipment for Aircraft and
Air Traffic Control
© 2000, 2001 Flight Safety Foundation
CFIT and ALAR Task Forces
Flight Safety Foundation
Steering Committee
and
Working Groups
CFIT
ALAR
Flight Safety Foundation (FSF)
ALAR Task Force Organization
Steering
Committee
Data Acquisition
and Analysis
Working Group
Operations and
Training Working
Group
FSF CFIT/ALAR
Action Group
(CAAG)
Air Traffic Control
Training and Procedures/
Airport Facilities
Working Group
Aircraft Equipment
Working Group
Approximately 125 aviation safety specialists are involved worldwide.
ALAR Objectives
• To reduce the approach-and-landing accident
(ALA) rate by 50% within 5 years of issuing
final recommendations in 1999.
• To identify equipment, operational, regulatory
and training measures that will improve safety
for aircraft from commencement of approach
through circling, landing or missed approach.
Statistics for
Approach-and-landing Accidents
(ALAs)
• 56% of Western-built large commercial jet accidents
are ALAs.
• Approximately 50% of fatalities are the result of
Western-built large commercial jet ALAs.
• By 2010, the task force estimates 23 Western-built large
commercial jet fatal accidents will occur annually.
• Controlled-flight-into-terrain (CFIT) accidents are not
showing a downward trend.
ALAR Data-driven Strategy
• High-level analyses of 287 accidents
• In-depth study of 76 incidents and accidents
• Line observations on 3,300 U.S. flights
• All conclusions supported by data
Most Common Types of
Approach-and-landing Accidents
• CFIT
• Loss of control
• Landing overrun
• Runway excursion
• Unstabilized approach
These comprised 76 percent of the sample.
Photo by Jan Ovind
A Primary “Golden Rule”
(Assisted by Equipment)
• Aviate
• Navigate
• Communicate
• Manage aircraft systems
A “Golden Rule” and Risks
Aviate
• Approach stability
• Visual illusions
• Maximizing climb angle
•
Navigate •
•
•
Nonprecision approach procedures
Go-around decision
Aircraft position awareness vs. terrain
ATC awareness of aircraft position
(continued)
A “Golden Rule” and Risks
(continued, #2)
•
•
Communicate
•
•
Pilot-controller communication
Runway incursions
Knowledge of traffic
Flight data availability
Manage • Errors in conducting checklists
• Complexity of automation
Inadequate Situational
Awareness in ALAs
• Inadequate situational awareness was a
factor in 51% of ALAs.
• Currently available safety equipment was
not installed in 29% of the aircraft in ALAs.
Factors in Unstabilized
Approaches and
Missed Approaches
• 42% involved “press-on-itis.”
• 36% were low and/or slow on approach.
• 30% were high and/or fast on approach.
• Only 17% of crews initiated go-arounds.
Photo by Dr. David Powell
Terminal Area Infrastructure
• 21% of ALAs involved lack of ground aids.
• 12% of ALAs involved lack of ATC equipment (terminal
approach radar, minimum safe altitude warning).
• The risk of ALAs during nonprecision approaches is five
times greater than the risk of ALAs during precision
approaches.
• The risk of ALAs in the absence of terminal approach
radar is three times greater than the risk of ALAs with
terminal approach radar available.
Best Solutions for Today
• The radio altimeter is an effective tool to
help prevent ALAs.
• Education is needed to improve pilot
awareness of radio-altimeter operations
and benefits.
• Develop policy and SOPs for using radio
altimeter.
(continued)
Best Solutions for Today
(continued, #2)
• EGPWS/TAWS
for better terrain
awareness and
early warning.
(continued)
Best Solutions for Today
(continued, #3)
• Implement MSAW or equivalent on all
approach radars for ATC terrain warning.
• Install and use correctly the radio altimeter
for enhanced terrain awareness.
(continued)
Best Solutions for Today
(continued, #4)
• Use all available approach guidance (including ILS,
VASI and PAPI) for better vertical position awareness.
• Use constant-angle nonprecision approach procedures
(CANPA), and eliminate step-down nonprecision
approaches.
• Use a head-up display (HUD) with a velocity vector to
provide projected touchdown point.
• Use angle of attack, for energy awareness.
(continued)
Best Solutions for Today
(continued, #5)
• VHF radio anti-blocking devices can improve
communication.
• TCAS should be installed on freight-carrying
aircraft for better traffic awareness.
• Airport Surface Detection Equipment to prevent
ground collisions.
• Flight operational quality assurance programs
can identify unsafe trends.
Best Solutions for Tomorrow
• Vertical situational awareness display for better
terrain awareness.
• 3D/4D virtual reality synthetic vision for a
VMC-like display in night, IMC conditions.
• Precision approaches to all runways with
satellite navigation.
(continued)
Best Solutions for Tomorrow
(continued, #2)
• Terrain/navigation database integrity and accuracy
for better position sensing.
• Improved position sensing and airport mapping to
prevent runway incursions.
• Harmonization of avionics, charting and database
to assure that all information is accurate.
(continued)
Best Solutions for Tomorrow
(continued, #3)
• Improve autopilot human-machine interface for
intuitive system control.
• Improve FMS human-machine interface for
intuitive system control.
• Improve quality of FMS database for better
position accuracy.
• Use common/standard terminology for charting
and FMS database for enhanced understanding.
ALAR Tool Kit
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Flight Safety Digest: “ALAR Briefing Notes”
Flight Safety Digest: “Killers in Aviation: FSF Task Force Presents Facts
About Approach-and-landing and Controlled-flight-into-terrain
Accidents”
FSF ALAR Task Force Conclusions and Recommendations
FSF ALAR Task Force Members
Selected FSF Publications
Approach-and-landing Risk Awareness Tool
Approach-and-landing Risk Reduction Guide
Standard Operating Procedures Template
ALAR Information Posters
CFIT Checklist
CFIT Alert
Flight Operations and Training
Equipment for Aircraft and Air Traffic Control
Air Traffic Control Communication
Pilot Guide to Preventing CFIT
Approach-and-landing Accident Data Overview
An Approach and Landing Accident: It Could Happen to You
CFIT Awareness and Prevention
Links to Aviation Statistics on the Internet
More information?
Flight Safety Foundation
Suite 300, 601 Madison Street
Alexandria, VA 22314-1756 U.S.
Telephone: +1 (703) 739-6700
Fax: +1 (703) 739-6708
www.flightsafety.org
This is a self-contained product of the Flight Safety Foundation Approach-and-landing Accident Reduction (ALAR) Task Force and includes a
variety of information to help prevent approach-and-landing accidents, including those involving controlled flight into terrain (CFIT).
This information is not intended to supersede operators’/manufacturers’ policies, practices or requirements,
or to supersede government regulations.
In the interest of aviation safety, the contents of the FSF ALAR Tool Kit may be displayed, printed, photocopied and/or
distributed on paper for noncommercial use. Except as specifically permitted above, the contents must not be offered for sale
directly or indirectly, used commercially, distributed on the Internet and/or on any other electronic media without
the prior written permission of Flight Safety Foundation. All uses of the FSF ALAR Tool Kit must credit Flight Safety Foundation.
Contact Roger Rozelle, director of publications, for more information.
© 2000, 2001 Flight Safety Foundation (official release v. 3.0)
Flight Safety Foundation
Suite 300, 601 Madison Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314-1756 U.S.
Telephone: +1 (703) 739-6700; Fax: +1 (703) 739-6708
http://www.flightsafety.org