Wrong Surface Landings

In October 2017, FAA distributed FAAST Notice NOTC7400 to raise pilots’ awareness of Wrong Surface Landings (landing on the wrong runway, a taxiway or at the wrong airport) occurring within the National Airspace System (NAS). Since then, Wrong Surface Landings (WSL) continues to occur, approximately one every other day.

Airport geometry, communication and expectation bias are among the most common wrong surface landing precursors:

• Parallel and offset parallel runway configurations contribute to more WSL than any other configuration
• Pilots incorrectly proceed to the runway they typically utilize or expect, vs. the one actually assigned by ATC, even after correctly reading back the runway assignment.
• Pilots not specifically (visually) identifying or confirming their assigned runway, or misidentifying another runway for the one they are cleared for.
• Pilots not utilizing readily available geographic, visual and charted information to aid in correct runway identification
• Pilots not planning for their arrival adequately

This short video, Wrong Surface Landings, produced by FAA’s Runway Safety Group, elaborates on the impacts of airport geometry, communication and expectation bias on the WSL problem, and presents anecdotes to avoid a wrong surface landing. Among the best practices to put you on the correct runway:

• Thorough preflight and inflight planning to include arrival runway usage and preparation for unexpected changes
• Manage and reduce cockpit distractions
• Active listening
• Be prepared to react to a change to a landing runway assignment
• Use all available visual and charted cues, and equipment resources
• If ever unsure, ask ATC

Pilots of all experience levels have committed the wrong surface landing!

Please view the linked video now (less than 4 minutes),
to help you to avoid a wrong surface landing.

Moreover, help your fellow pilots by passing this information on to them.

For more information, contact the FAA Runway Safety Group at 9-AWA-RunwaySafety (FAA)