What action should be taken if a runway is not safe for use?

What action should be taken if a runway is not safe for use?

• A. Advise all aircraft on the surface that the runway is not available and coordinate alternate routings.
• B. Direct pilots to land on the runway anyway if they can see it.
• C. Turn off runway lights but keep operations.
• D. Ignore until a pilot reports an issue.

Answer: (A)

When a runway is not safe for use, the priority is to prevent any aircraft from using it and to direct traffic to safe alternatives. The best course is to advise all aircraft and surface users that the runway is not available and to coordinate alternate routings on other runways or paths. This gives pilots clear guidance and lets the tower and ground control manage the flow, maintaining separation and preventing incursions or missed hazards on a compromised surface. In practice, you’d also communicate the status to other centers and issue the appropriate notices (such as a NOTAM) so everyone understands the restriction. Relying on pilots to decide, attempting to land on a not-safe runway, turning off lights while continuing operations, or waiting for a pilot to report a problem are all reactive or hazardous approaches that fail to manage risk proactively.

When a runway is not safe for use, the priority is to prevent any aircraft from using it and to direct traffic to safe alternatives. The best course is to advise all aircraft and surface users that the runway is not available and to coordinate alternate routings on other runways or paths. This gives pilots clear guidance and lets the tower and ground control manage the flow, maintaining separation and preventing incursions or missed hazards on a compromised surface. In practice, you’d also communicate the status to other centers and issue the appropriate notices (such as a NOTAM) so everyone understands the restriction. Relying on pilots to decide, attempting to land on a not-safe runway, turning off lights while continuing operations, or waiting for a pilot to report a problem are all reactive or hazardous approaches that fail to manage risk proactively.