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
Potential for Wrong Runway Landings at Tucson International (KTUS)
Numerous wrong-runway landings have occurred at Tucson International Airport (KTUS), especially when runways 29 are in use. Many pilots have mistaken runway 29R for 29L, or Taxiway Alpha for a landing surface. Taxiway Alpha is north and parallel to Runway 11L/29R. Ensure correct runway lineup. Runway 29L is the shorter runway on the south side of the airport. Pilots are urged to thoroughly plan for their arrival at Tucson in advance. Review the current airport diagram, in addition to the attached photos depicting runways 29 at KTUS. https://www.faasafety.gov/files/notices/2018/Mar/KTUS_Runways_29_and_Taxiway_A.pdf For questions, please contact Charlotte York, Tucson ATCT Support Specialist: 520-295-5723; Charlotte.York@faa.gov
Avoiding Wrong-Surface Landings
The FAA Runway Safety Team produced a great video on preventing Wrong Surface Landings (WSLs). They are a hazard / threat to pilots at ALL experience & rating levels. Just for a kick-off attention-grabber, there's a WSL about every other day in the National Airspace System, and about 85% of WSL Events are committed by GA pilots! Worse still, the HNL Airport legacy architecture with staggered Runway 4L & 4R approach ends; Communications Issues; and Expectation Bias are THE three classic WSL precursors, so it looks like we’ve won (NOT!) the trifecta here. Please click on/cut & paste this link to view an
RNO Video for Wrong Runway Landings
Here is a RNO Airport information Video for wrong Runway Landings. Please click or copy the link below. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBoNrXT6cq8 For additional information please contact Larry Cheek, RNO OPS FPM 775-379-6934 larry.d.cheek@faa.gov