Safety Case for parallel runway operations under low visibility conditions

airsight has a long standing cooperation with Dubai Airports and Dubai Air Navigation Services (DANS), through engaging in numerous projects throughout the years. Under this project, airsight developed a safety case for the simultaneous operation of both runways at Dubai International (DXB) under Low Visibility Conditions (LVC) as part of the approval by the competent authority.

Dubai International has two parallel runways whereas only the northern runway was approved for take-off and landings during LVC. Even though such situation rarely occurs, this implies a significant capacity bottleneck which had to be challenged.

Limited visibility and reduced visual perception abilities of all stakeholders at the airport requires the implementation of specific provisions related to the infrastructure as well as to procedures. Therefore, airsight conducted an initial gap-analysis of the existing infrastructure and procedures against applicable ICAO Standards and Recommendations. As a result of this analysis, it could be demonstrated that the physical characteristics of the southern runway and adjacent areas meet these requirements.

A second study included a safety assessment of the ATC and airport operations procedures. The scope of this assessment was to identify possible hazards and risks associated with the implementation of the revised procedures, and to derive appropriate mitigation measures in cooperation with the process owners.

During LVC, special attention has to be given to the protection/safeguarding of aircraft taking-off or landing. Therefore, taxi procedures have been optimised for both traffic crossing the runway and traffic adjacent to the runway to warrant safe and efficient operations. airsight contributed in the optimisation of the procedures based on its wide ranging expertise in airport operations and safety assessments. On the basis of the developed safety case, DANS & Dubai International Airport has been approved by the authorities for the simultaneous operations of both runways during LVC.