GENERAL INFORMATION

NARRATIVE

[O] On September 11, 1999, about 1958 central daylight time, a runway incursion involving United Airlines 2 (UAL2), a Boeing 767, and Delta Air Lines flight 1211 (DAL1211), a Boeing 727, occurred at Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD), Chicago, Illinois. UAL2, which was being repositioned on the airport by two UAL mechanics, crossed runway 9L without air traffic control (ATC) clearance. DAL1211, which was departing from runway 9L at the time, passed directly over UAL2 at an altitude of 200 to 300 feet. The incident occurred in darkness under visual meteorological conditions. Neither airplane was damaged, and no injuries were reported. [Recommendations] A-00-28. Amend Federal Aviation Administration Order 7210.3, "Facility Operation and Administration," to require tower air traffic control managers to monitor planned airport construction projects or other activities that may require significant use of nonstandard taxi routes and coordinate with airport management to ensure that such routes are inspected for adequate signage and markings. [Responses] FAA LTR DTD: 6/28/00 The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) agrees with this safety recommendation and will revise Order 7210.3, Facility Operation and Administration, paragraph 2-1-18(a), Obstacle Identification Surfaces, Obstacle Free Zones, Runway Safety Areas, and Clearways, to read as follows: "Facility AT managers shall monitor planned airport construction projects or other activities that may require significant use of nonstandard taxi routes and coordinate with airport management to ensure that such routes are inspected for adequate signage and markings while ensuring that local procedures provide protected airspace from adjacent, nonintersecting runways and taxiways where simultaneous use could create hazards for arriving and departing aircraft. These procedures shall be reviewed whenever new runways or taxiways are programmed or whenever new/different aircraft are scheduled to provide service to the airport." It is anticipated that the revision to Order 7210.3 will be effective January 25, 2001. In the interim, the FAA issued Notice N7210.495, Airport Construction Projects, to implement this procedural change while waiting for the order to be revised. I have enclosed a copy of the notice for the Board's information. I will provide the Board with a copy of the revision to Order 7210.3 as soon as it is issued. NTSB LTR DTD: 11/14/00 The FAA states that it will revise Order 7210.3, "Facility Operation and Administration," paragraph 2-1-18(a), "Obstacle Identification Surfaces, Obstacle Free Zones, Runway Safety Areas, and Clearways," and that the revision will become effective January 25, 2001. In the interim, the FAA indicates it has issued Notice N7210.495, "Airport Construction Projects," which implements the requested procedural change. Pending issuance of the revisions to Order 7210.3, Safety Recommendation A-00-28 is classified "Open Acceptable Response." FAA LTR DTD: 12/7/00 The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has revised FAA Order 7210.3, Facility Operation and Administration, paragraph 2-1-18(a), Obstacle Identification Surfaces, Obstacle Free Zones, Runway Safety Areas, and Clearways, to read as follows: "Facility AT managers shall monitor planned airport construction projects or other activities that may require significant use of nonstandard taxi routes and coordinate with airport management to ensure that such routes are inspected for adequate signage and markings while ensuring that local procedures provide protected airspace from adjacent, nonintersecting runways and taxiways where simultaneous use could create hazards for arriving and departing aircraft. These procedures shall be reviewed whenever new runways or taxiways are programmed or whenever new/different aircraft are scheduled to provide service to the airport." This revision has been incorporated into FAA Order 7210.3, effective January 25, 2001. I have enclosed copies of the applicable pages for the Board's information. I consider the FAA's action to be completed on this safety recommendation. NTSB LTR DTD: 3/9/01 The FAA reports that it has revised FAA Order 7210.3, "Facility Operation and Administration," paragraph 2-1-18(a), "Obstacle Identification Surfaces, Obstacle Free Zones, Runway Safety Areas, and Clearways," effective January 25, 2001. The Safety Board notes that the language in the FAA's letter differs from the language in the copy of the revised order that the FAA enclosed. It is the Board's understanding that the copy of the enclosed order reflects the language used in the issued revision. Although the Board prefers the language contained in the FAA's letter to the language used in the issued revision because the earlier version is clearer, the revision to FAA Order 7210.3 satisfies the intent of Safety Recommendation A-00-28, which is classified "Closed Acceptable Action." 2

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