Book Description

This report presents the results an audit of the FAA¿s Runway Safety Area (RSA) program. An RSA is a rectangular space around a runway that provides critical safety margins for landing and departing aircraft, thereby helping to minimize the risk to aircraft and passengers from flights that undershoot, overrun, or veer off a runway. Over the last 10 years, 75 aircraft have overrun or veered off the Nation¿s runways, resulting in nearly 200 injuries and 12 fatalities. The audit objectives were to: (1) assess airport sponsors¿ and FAA¿s progress and challenges, if any, in fulfilling the congressional RSA mandate; and (2) evaluate the effectiveness of FAA¿s process for identifying, prioritizing, and funding needed RSA improvements. Illustrations.