Surface Safety Initiatives Team (SSIT) Update	

Presented to: REDAC Sub-Committee

By: Mike DiPilato – SRA 

Date: March 31, 2015

Honesty and Service

®

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The FAA Administrator formed the SSIT to identify surface safety and/or surveillance needs at airports that are no longer included in the Runway Status Light (RWSL) program and Low Cost Ground Surveillance (LCGS) pilot program.

What is the Safety Surface Initiatives Team (SSIT)?

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SSIT Organization

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SRA Proprietary

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Under SSIT Umbrella are CARA teams and AABC Teams 

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Office of Airports:

Jim White/

John Dermody

NATCA

NextGen

Office of Airports

Runway Safety:

Jeff Stewart 

Aviation Safety 

Policy, International, Affairs, and Environmental

ATO Offices

Safety and Technical Training

Program Management Organization

System Operations Services

Mission Support

Comprehensive Airport Review and Assessment (CARA) Teams

The SSIT Charters CARA teams at in-scope airports.

Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)

Dallas/Fort-Worth International Airport (DFW)

San Diego International Airport (SAN)

Reno/Tahoe International Airport (RNO) 

Different than a Runway Safety Action Team (RSAT)

Data Review 

Document Review 

Brainstorming

Identify Surface Safety Shortfalls

For example: Geometry, Procedures, and Technology

Deliverable is a Comprehensive Airport Review Plan (CARP)

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SRA Proprietary

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0 airports – 4 elected to participate

CARP is here – Description/justification/improvement concepts

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CARA Team Organization

Safety Surface Initiatives Team (SSIT)

Airport 

Management

Comprehensive Airport Review and Assessment (CARA) Team Lead

Runway Safety Program Manager

NATCA

FAA Airports

Flight Standards

Pilots

FAA Airport Safety R&D

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Sub-teams 

In process of updating PP/team organization 

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Three AABC Sub-Teams (for each airport):

Airport Design and Procedures – Office of Airports –Khalil Kodsi

Surface Technology – PMO – Bobby Nichols

Air Traffic Procedures and Policies – ATO – Pamela Dees

Identify Alternatives for each Shortfall

Rank and Recommend Alternatives based on: 

Cost

Benefits 

Impact

Present Alternatives to SSIT

Alternative Analysis and Benefits Case (AABC) Team 

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CARP Completed on June 18, 2014

Identified Shortfalls:

Planned Removal of RWSLs

Hot Spots 

Cockpit Workload in Relationship to Time and Distance to Taxiways and Runways

1 RSAT Action Item – Aircraft Lined up to Land on a Taxiway

Alternative Analysis is Ongoing 

Airport Design AABC Team

Analyzed ASDE-X Data

Conducted Focused Discussions 

Developing Costs for Geometry Improvements 

Boston Logan International Airport

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**Some “improvement concepts” may not only help this airport, but others (e.g. Hot Spot Phraseology/visual hold line phraseology?)

**Alternatives = RIM second phase? 

Use cost tool to generate costs

AABC – Implications with 

Phase 1 and 2 RIM   - upper hand / expedited list! 

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CARP was Recently Completed

Identified Shortfalls:

Planned Removal of RWSLs

Potential Non-Published Hot Spots

No criteria for defining/removing hot spots

Standard Taxi Routes

Wide Expanses of Pavement 

Other Areas of Concern:

Limitations with Vehicle Squitters

Arrangement of Sign Panels on Dual Runway Exit signs (complex runway/taxiway intersections)

Not specific to DFW 

The Next Step is the Alternative Analysis Process

Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport

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From reports, THLs have done their job

STD Taxi routes – some controllers use them, some don’t.  Cause added stress / WL To pilots 

Segway to moving maps. Also an improvement concept by BOS

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Arrangement of Sign Panels on Dual Runway Exit Signs 

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Constantly learning and improving our standards. PROACTIVE. 

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CARP Completed on January 9, 2015

Identified Shortfalls: 

Runway Crossings at High Energy Intersections 

Non-Standard Taxiway Geometry

Zero Distance Remaining Sign 

Non-Standard EMAS

Area not Viewable from the ATCT (GA RAMP)

Alternative Analysis will begin within Q2 2015

San Diego International Airport

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CARP Completed on February 27, 2015

Identified Shortfalls:

Lack of a Runway Incursion Device in the ATCT

Reduced Visibility in the ATCT  during Periods of Reduced Visibility and at Night. 

Runway/Taxiway used as Supplemental Parking

Turning off Runway Lights (when active) to Conserve Energy 

Non-Standard Taxiway Geometry  

Reno’s Analysis Process will run Simultaneously with San Diego’s.

Reno/Tahoe International Airport

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Reduced visibility – note airport beacon blend in with RGLs

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Mike DiPilato 

Airport Operations Research Analyst

SRA

Email: mike_dipilato@sra.com 

Phone: 609-601-6800 x144

Questions?

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REFRENCE SLIDES

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