Errors occur on the apron or taxiway when the crew do not comply with taxiing rules, procedures or clearances. This can result in a near-collision or a collision with another aircraft, a vehicle or an obstacle on the ground.
An aircraft accesses an incorrect taxiway. The taxiway is too small for the aircraft – and then the wingtip hits a lighting mast.
More than 90% of the reported cases occurred on Swiss aerodromes; the 10% that occurred abroad were reported by Swiss operators. 60% of the cases related to commercial aircraft; the remaining 40% had to do with general aviation.
Most of the reports (about 85%) related to a failure to observe the taxiing rules or navigation errors. Effects on safety: often none or small. The most frequent causes: a misunderstanding about the granted clearance; a pilot loses his bearings on an airfield with a complicated apron and taxiway system. In a few cases (4%), severe weather conditions were the cause: the probability of navigation errors increases with reduced visibility.
An aircraft collided with another aircraft, a vehicle or another type of obstacle while taxiing in just 10% of the incidents. Unfortunately, in general aviation, such incidents are frequent. An aircraft taxies and comes close to a building or obstacle without there being any ground markings on the apron. If the pilot is not sufficiently observant, a collision can easily occur.
In 2023, 5% of incident reports related to navigation errors or deviations that led to incorrect manoeuvres on the apron or taxiway – both in commercial air transport and general aviation.
A total of 12% of the error reports on the apron or taxiway related to serious incidents.
Last modification 01.05.2024
