Airport and air traffic control (ATC) specialists in Italy expect to manage runway incursion risk as a high priority for the foreseeable future as projections call for increased European air traffic with few runway additions, says Massimo Garbini, director general of Ente Nazionale di Assistenza al Volo (ENAV), the Italian company for air navigation services. Nevertheless, recent ENAV data show that preventing and mitigating errors by pilots stands to have the greatest impact in Italy’s campaign against runway incursions, which are a worldwide problem.
Surface surveillance technology; improved adherence to standard phraseology and procedures; local runway safety teams; markings, signs, runway guard lights and stop bars; hot spot maps; and government-industry collaboration have been among significant advances since a fatal accident occurred at Milano Linate Airport in October 2001 (
