WASHINGTON, Dec. 5 (UPI) -- The number of near-misses between aircraft on the ground at U.S. airports approached record highs in recent years, a federal report indicated Wednesday.
The Government Accountability Office findings come despite efforts by the Federal Aviation Administration and local airports to ensure pilots and air traffic controllers follow federal rules permitting one plane at a time on or near a runway, the Los Angeles Times reported.
The GAO report found runway safety gains made earlier this decade have declined because of overworked controllers, a lack of leadership at the FAA and flight levels nearing those before the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure sought the report, which was highly critical of the FAA's efforts to address incidents in which aircraft violate safety zones around runways at the nation's airports.
While praising the FAA for some safety-oriented initiatives, GAO researchers said they found the rate of runway safety violations in 2007 was nearly as high as its peak in 2001.
The FAA said in a statement it exceeded its goal for reducing the most serious close calls in 2007 and was working with airport officials on measures to reduce the incidents more.
