One of the most important prevention strategies sounds deceptively simple. But, it is straightforward. What we need is better awareness of the problem. Recognizing the problem truly is the first and most important step to the solution. This is exactly why we are working so hard and focusing so much effort on collaborating with industry to increase awareness of runway safety.
Awareness is the key.
The work we're doing with AOPA is a great example of partnership to increase awareness. You can go to the AOPA Safety Foundation's Web site and find airport taxi diagrams for more than 330 of the busiest towered airports. Over the next several years, the aviation community will make an even stronger commitment to awareness through education and training for pilots, controllers, and ground vehicle operators. That means more emphasis on runway safety in initial as well as recurrent training. We'll hear this week about better procedures.