AUSTIN, Texas — A near-collision on June 26 at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport has caused the Federal Aviation Administration to investigate.
The crew operating the plane had to briefly abandon landing after coming into close contact with a small aircraft on a strip.
According to FAA, “Allegiant Flight 1500 was preparing to land at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport when the crew initiated a climb due to a small aircraft in proximity. The closest proximity was 1.6 miles and 200 feet.”
The close call comes on the heels of a similar incident in February. A FedEx cargo plane had to divert its course to land as a Southwest Airlines jet was simultaneously revving up for takeoff on Feb. 4 at the Austin airport.
A potential crash between the two aircraft was avoided, but the National Transportation Safety Board opened up an investigation within the same day the event happened.
On June 23, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) released a proposal to mandate the enforcement of avoidance collision systems for new heavy vehicles above 10,000 pounds. The system would include forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking and electronic stability control systems.
NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy supports the proposal, saying “Decades of NTSB investigations have made clear that collision avoidance systems on heavy vehicles will saves lives and are a critical piece of the Safe System approach to road safety. Stability control systems are an important component for these collision avoidance systems and also help prevent loss of control and rollovers. We applaud NHTSA and FMCSA on taking this important step to prioritize the safety of heavy vehicles and stop the public health crisis on our roads.”
Many recommendations for avoidance collision systems have been made by NTSB, the earliest being in 1995. They plan to further assess the proposed rule and its safety guards for road users. Their observations will be submitted after.