TSB calls for ‘enhanced collision warning systems’ at Canadian airports

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada reiterated Monday its concern about the risk of runway incursions at Canadian airports as it released an investigation report into an Aug., 2014 incident that caused no injuries.

On Aug. 4, 2014, a ground controller at Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport cleared a DHC-8 to taxi for departure via Runway 31 and to hold short of runway 36.

Although the crew acknowledged the instruction to hold short of Runway 36, it actually entered the Runway 36 protected area while a Boeing 737 was on final approach to Runway 36. So Winnipeg Air Traffic Control then instructed the 737 to pull up and go around.

“The TSB investigation found that the hold-short line painted on Runway 31 was significantly degraded, with 123 feet of the line missing,” TSB said in a release, noting the crew of the DHC-8 was actively looking for the line.

That line has since been repainted and the airport has realigned guard lights.

The investigation report was released Monday.

There were no injuries or property damage from the incident, but TSB said in its release on the investigation report that it is “calling for the implementation of improved procedures and enhanced collision warning systems at Canada’s airports.”

Runway incursion risk was one of two watch lists, on air safety, that TSB identified in its last annual report to Parliament, released in June, which covers the period 1 April 2014 through March 31, 2015. At the time, TSB said Transport Canada “has not done enough to encourage industry to improve procedures and adopt enhanced collision-warning system. The other risk on its watch list was approach-to-landing accidents.

A separate organization from Transport Canada, TSB reports directly to Parliament through the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons.

In addition to aviation, TSB also investigates safety incidents involving railways, marine and pipelines.

In 2014-15, there were 50 safety communications: two recommendations (both in rail), 26 safety advisories (four in aviation), 20 safety information letters (three in aviation) and two safety concerns (both in aviation).

There were no safety communications in pipelines.

In May, 2015, TSB stated suggested that progress was “slow” in addressing recommendations “which would prevent or minimize the consequences of approach-and-landing accidents.”

In marine safety, TSB said earlier it has called for Transport Canada to “implement regulations requiring operators to have formal safety management processes.”

That statement was made in a report, released Nov. 24, into an August, 2014 fire on La Relève II, which was on a sightseeing cruise with 33 passengers when it caught fire.

“Previous TSB investigations into occurrences involving passenger vessels in several regions of Canada have identified issues related to emergency preparedness and regulatory oversight,” TSB added in the report. Two passengers were admitted to hospital, one for shock and another for a leg injury.