Operational Safety
B737 cockpit visibility
747-400 Landing at HNL
Safety is of the utmost importance on any construction project and is especially emphasized in airport construction. Operational safety refers to both the safety of construction personnel and equipment as well as safety of operating aircraft.
Safety concerns specific to airports stem from construction equipment and personnel in the same operating space as aircraft. In general, aircraft are fast, have limited sight distance and can take a long time to stop. Jetliners typically take off and land between 130-155 knots (150-180 mph) (see Image) while taxing speeds can be as fast as 15-30 knots (17-35 mph). Limited sight lines from jetliner cockpits (see Image) means substantial blind spots and high speeds mean long braking distances.
This section covers airport specific safety concerns associated with paving and other construction operations. Universal safety concerns such as personal protective equipment, hard hats, protective clothing and workzone safety are not covered in detail here. The governing document for operational safety during construction is:
This section addresses:
- Safety responsibilities. Who is responsible for what?
- Safety considerations. Additional safety items and procedures unique to airports.
- Safety areas. Special areas set up for aircraft safety and their implications on construction.
- Construction marking and lighting. Typical marking and lighting schemes used in airport construction.
- Foreign object damage (FOD). The seriousness and consequences of FOD.
- Disorientation. The potential to become disoriented on airfields.
References
FOD - Risk Management Fox,)
Operational Safety On Airports During Construction Fede)
Standards For Airport Markings Fede)
Airport Design Fede)
Foreign Object Debris And Damage Prevention Boei)
737 Airplane Characteristics For Airport Planning Boei)
FOD Prevention Fran)
NAFPI 05 CAF/MAF Update Henr)
Finding Keys To FOD Prevention And Awareness Turn)
