Runway Excursion

Runway excursion:

Definition

A veer off or overrun off the runway surface. (ICAO)

Description

A runway excursion occurs when an aircraft departs the runway in use during the take-off or landing run. The excursion may be intentional or unintentional.

Types of Runway Excursion

• A departing aircraft fails to become airborne or successfully reject the take off before reaching the end of the designated runway.
• A landing aircraft is unable to stop before the end of the designated runway is reached.
• An aircraft taking off, rejecting take off or landing departs the side of the designated runway.

Effects

• Death or injury to persons on board the aircraft
• Damage to the aircraft
• Death or injury to persons not on the aircraft
• Damage to airfield or off-airfield installations
• Damage to other aircraft or to vehicles
• Delay consequent upon runway obstruction due to the excursion

Defences

• Never making the decision to reject a take off after V1 unless it is impossible to rotate or it is certain that the safety of the aircraft would be endangered if it became airborne.
• Correct calculation of maximum operating weight, field length required and relevant critical speeds etc. based on accurately reported ambient conditions and subsequent correct input into aircraft flight systems should preclude a runway excursion under all normal and most abnormal conditions (e.g. power unit failure).
• In the case of a minor runway excursion, International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) regulations specifying minimum cleared areas adjacent to and at either end of runways should ensure that damage to an aircraft leaving the paved surface of a runway is not severe.
• Flying a Stabilised Approach which then leads to the landing runway threshold being crossed at the target speed and height