Runway safety a top priority for Airfield Management Published Oct. 9, 2008 By 72nd Operations Squadron Tinker Air Force Base TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla., -- Unauthorized runway incursions are receiving high-level attention by both the Air Force and Federal Aviation Administration. A runway incursion is any unauthorized presence of an aircraft, vehicle or person on the protected area of a surface designated for the landing and take-off of aircraft. The majority of runway incursions throughout the Air Force involve vehicles that enter the protected runway environment without approval. The protected area is known as a "controlled movement area." At Tinker, the CMA is 200 feet on either side of the runway edges and certain other designated critical surface-areas around the runway. Aircraft, vehicles and people must remain outside the CMA until approval is requested and granted by the Control Tower. "Of course, each of these must have radio communications with the Control Tower to enter the CMA and maintain constant communications with the Control Tower while operating within the CMA. As you can imagine the potential for disaster is huge when any unauthorized aircraft, vehicle or person is on a runway that is being used for landing/take off of aircraft," said Don Lott, 72nd Operations Support Squadron Airfield Management. Anyone driving on the airfield must be trained and certified on proper procedures. Training is designed involving classroom details and hands-on experience and each driver must successfully pass written and driving tests. "Despite the training and constant scrutiny of the airfield driving program, we recently experienced two runway incursions at Tinker. These occurred after going two-and-a-half years without any incursions," Mr. Lott said. The two runway incursions were the result of typical human errors cited in Air Force and FAA statistics, i.e. communications; situational awareness; and training, Mr. Lott said. One incursion occurred when a driver misunderstood instructions from the control tower that were meant for another vehicle. Fortunately, no aircraft were involved in this incident. The second incursion occurred when a driver mistakenly entered an active runway without clearance. An aircraft was cleared for takeoff on this runway, but fortunately the pilot saw the vehicle and did not attempt to take off. Both drivers were suspended from driving on the airfield. "Driving on the airfield is serious business. It takes a concentrated effort not only on the part of trainers and drivers, but also with commanders and supervisors. Everyone must be actively involved in their unit's airfield driving program to make it a successful program. We can keep Tinker airfield safe by working closely together to ensure drivers are limited to the minimum number essential for mission accomplishment; appoint dedicated program managers to run unit programs; ensure drivers are properly and thoroughly trained; and conduct periodic reviews of our unit programs," Mr. Lott said. "Zero runway incursions should always be our benchmark." For additional information on the airfield driving program at Tinker, refer to Tinker Instruction 13-202, Airfield Driving Program, or contact Karen Kinne or Mr. Lott, 72nd OSS Airfield Management at 734-5328.