SolidBowtie

Runway excursion — landing

Landing on contaminated runways: stabilised approaches, touchdown discipline and the engineered margins that catch a long landing.

HazardAircraft landing at speed on a potentially contaminated runway
Top eventAircraft departs the runway surface

5 threats 16 barriers 3 consequences safety-critical barriers marked

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Threats & preventive barriers

Each threat is a credible pathway to the top event; its barriers interrupt that pathway before control is lost.

Wet / contaminated runway

  • Runway condition reporting (RCR)

    Socio-technical · 85% effective · Owner: Airport Operations

  • Landing distance assessment

    Behavioural (human) · 80% effective · Owner: Flight Crew

Unstable / fast approach

  • Stabilised approach gate (go-around policy) ★ critical

    Behavioural (human) · 80% effective · Owner: Flight Crew

    Schedule pressure

    Crew fatigue

  • Approach speed monitoring & callouts

    Continuous · 80% effective · Owner: Flight Crew

Tailwind beyond limits

  • Crosswind / tailwind limits

    Socio-technical · 90% effective · Owner: Flight Operations

  • ATC wind advisories

    Socio-technical · 80% effective · Owner: Air Traffic Control

Hydroplaning

  • Tyre tread & pressure checks

    Behavioural (human) · 85% effective · Owner: Line Maintenance

    📅 Tyre inspection · weekly keep-alive task

  • Anti-skid braking system ★ critical

    Active hardware · 90% effective · Owner: Line Maintenance

    📅 Anti-skid system test · quarterly keep-alive task

Late touchdown / long flare

  • Touchdown-zone markings & PAPI

    Passive (hardware) · 85% effective · Owner: Airport Operations

  • Go-around if not down in the zone

    Behavioural (human) · 75% effective · Owner: Flight Crew

Consequences & recovery barriers

Once the top event happens, recovery barriers limit each consequence.

Hull damage & passenger injuries

  • Autobrake & ground spoilers ★ critical

    Active hardware · 90% effective · Owner: Line Maintenance

  • Arrestor bed (EMAS)

    Passive (hardware) · 88% effective · Owner: Airport Infrastructure

  • Runway end safety area (RESA)

    Passive (hardware) · 85% effective · Owner: Airport Infrastructure

Post-excursion fire

  • Crash fire rescue (ARFF) response ★ critical

    Behavioural (human) · 85% effective · Owner: ARFF Chief

    📅 ARFF response drill · quarterly keep-alive task

Runway closure & disruption

  • Rapid aircraft removal plan

    Socio-technical · 70% effective · Owner: Airport Operations

  • Diversion & holding procedures

    Socio-technical · 80% effective · Owner: Air Traffic Control

Copying this template gives you a fully editable bowtie: barrier owners arrive as role suggestions, escalation factors sit on their barriers, and keep-alive activities are scheduled from the moment you copy. New to the notation? Read what the bowtie method is or browse the practical guides.

Use this template free. Copy “Runway excursion — landing” into your own workspace and adapt every barrier — no credit card.

Start free with this template →