JDA Aviation identifies safety risks if WK Kellogg control tower is closed
JDA Aviation Technology Solutions (JDA) performed a safety risk assessment on WK Kellogg Airport, Battle Creek and identified a number of potentially high, medium and low risks to aircraft if the tower had been closed due to sequestration.
JDA Aviation Technology Solutions (JDA) performed a safety risk assessment on WK Kellogg Airport, Battle Creek and identified a number of potentially high, medium and low risks to aircraft if the tower had been closed due to sequestration.
JDA Aviation Technology Solutions (JDA) published its results in a Safety Risk Management Document (SRMD).
Substantial data exists regarding the value of air traffic control towers for safe flight operations, In general, the risks associated with loss of an air traffic control tower are significant and some cannot be mitigated. In fact, an FAA analysis of the National Transportation Safety Board database shows that mid-air collision occurrences increase 56% from a towered to non-towered environment. The benefit of the monitoring of situational awareness provided by air traffic controllers is especially important to general aviation to prevent safety mishaps.
In response to the proposed closure of 149 federal air traffic control towers the city of Battle Creek, MI, commissioned JDA, a leading Safety Risk Assessment (SRA) authority to assess the risks associated with closing the air traffic control tower. The SRA completed on April 25, 2013.
Larry Bowron, transportation director, City of Battle Creek said “The SRA provides us with a professional and FAA-prescribed methodology to assess the risks associated with closing an air traffic control tower (ATCT) at a high-activity, large general aviation airport such as W.K. Kellogg Airport.”
Bowron continued “Because of the large and diverse tenant base at BTL, combined with complicated airfield geometry, we have a very complex operating environment that undoubtedly requires air traffic control tower services to operate safe and efficiently. The SRA demonstrates this need and will be a valuable addition to our tool box to maintain ATCT services for years to come.”
“Conducting a Safety Risk Assessment should be standard procedure whenever major changes in equipment or procedures occur, not only to identify and mitigate any potential safety issues that may result, but to protect against potential liability should an accident occur after those changes. I believe the JDA team, with collectively more than 1,000 years of FAA, NTSB and industry experience in providing aviation safety services, is best positioned to perform that service,” said Joe Del Balzo, JDA’s CEO.
The SRA identified 60 preliminary hazards and 10 major hazard categories that were assessed for risk severity and likelihood. The risk assessment resulted in three high risk, six medium risk and one low risk hazards.
