What happened
On the night of March 29, 2010, at Nice Airport, a runway incursion occurred involving two aircraft. The first aircraft, a Raytheon 390 Premier 1A registered M-FROG, was instructed to cross runway 04L and taxi via taxiway W. During the taxi, the crew of the M-FROG experienced significant difficulty navigating the complex intersection of taxiways due to low visibility of certain markings and a discrepancy between their electronic charts and the actual airfield layout.
While taxiing, the crew inadvertently crossed runway 04R. Simultaneously, a CRJ 200 registered EC-HHV was performing its takeoff roll on runway 04R. At a speed consistent with normal taxiing, the crew of the EC-HHV spotted the M-FROG on the runway and immediately aborted the takeoff. The incident resulted in no injuries and no damage to either aircraft.
The investigation
The BEA investigation focused on the navigation difficulties faced by the M-F0RG crew and the limitations of air traffic control (ATC) surveillance at the time. Investigators examined the airfield lighting, specifically the transition between different types of taxiway edge lights, and the accuracy of the airport charts. The investigation also looked into the visibility of taxiway signage and the lack of advanced surveillance technology at the tower.
Findings
Several contributing factors led to the incursion:
- The crew of the M-FROG followed green centerline lights that led them toward holding point A3, mistakenly believing they were following the path to taxiway W.
- A discrepancy existed between the airport charts and the physical infrastructure; the charts indicated a junction after point A2, whereas the actual junction was located before it.
- The lighting for taxiway V was extinguished, which likely misled the crew into following the path toward A3.
- The M-FROG has a low cockpit height, which, combined with the complex intersection and the transition between different lighting types, hindered the crew's ability to identify the correct path.
- The air traffic controller was unable to detect the incursion because the airport lacked ground movement radar or a Runway Incursion Management and Collision Avoidance System (RIMCAS).
- The taxiway W signage was difficult to see from the junction.
Safety action
Following the incident, the BEA issued recommendations to ensure that air traffic control installations on high-traffic airports include systems capable of detecting ground collision risks and runway incursions. Additionally, a recommendation was made to ensure that airport charts accurately reflect the physical reality of the airfield infrastructure.