Federal officials have revised rules for night-time landings and the staffing of air traffic control at San Francisco airport following a recent near-miss incident.
The new procedures will no longer allow pilots to make visual approaches to land when the adjacent runway is closed.
This was the case on July 7 when an Air Canada jet came within metres of landing on a taxiway filled with waiting aircraft.
Now pilots must use satellite-based landing systems to line up their approach for the correct runway.
FAA spokesman Ian Gregor also said a minimum of two air traffic controllers will be required during busy periods at night.
During the incident just one was present.
The Air Canada Airbus A320 mistook the taxiway for an adjacent runway which was closed and came within just feet of waiting aircraft on the taxiway before pulling up, circling and landing safely on the correct runway.
The incident is still under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board.
