NBAA has released a publication to help business aircraft crews avoid runway excursions, meaning overrunning or veering off a runway during takeoff or landing. The 25-page document addresses psychological and physical factors that can cause excursions and explains how to address them in training programs and safety management systems.

Runway excursions are the leading cause of accidents in business aviation, according to the Flight Safety Foundation (FSF).  In fact, FSF said that business jets were involved in 79 runway excursions between 2017 and 2022, accounting for nearly 41 percent of accidents in this segment during this period. Six of the excursions were fatal, resulting in 18 deaths.

“The runway excursion guide…contains a series of practical steps that flight crews and operators can take to improve airport safety in a proactive manner. The guide is also designed to be a reference for a number of factors to consider, along with links to more in-depth reading from industry resources,” said NBAA manager of flight operations Noah Yarborough.

In addition to causing the loss of life, runway excursions substantially damage or destroy airplanes, leading to costly litigation, harming the reputation of operators and pilots, and fueling significant increases in insurance premiums, NBAA said.

To further call attention to runway safety, NBAA is hosting a free webinar, “Elevating Runway and Surface Safety in Business Aviation,” tomorrow at 1 p.m. EST.