The FAA kicked off a new national initiative today to further improve runway safety at U.S. airports over the next 10 to 15 years. Known as the Runway Incursion Mitigation (RIM) program, it will identify airport risk factors that might contribute to a runway incursion and develop strategies to help mitigate those risks.

This risk-based decision-making initiative follows “significant progress” in improving runway safety at U.S. airports over the past 15 years, during which time the FAA worked with the aviation community on education, training, marking and lighting, standard runway safety areas, new technology and airfield improvements.

Through RIM, the FAA will focus on reducing runway incursions by addressing risks at specific locations at the airport that have a history of runway incursions. The agency has already collected and reviewed data to identify specific airport areas with risk factors that could contribute to a runway incursion. It plans to work with airport sponsors to develop strategies to mitigate runway incursions at these locations.