OUCH! Those Runway Incursions!

Written By Brenna Allard

Every airport we fly into is different, no two airports are exactly alike.  Whether the airport is your local single runway and single taxiway or a medium sized airfield with a couple of strips of concrete or the huge international airports, they are all different! Here again in aviation, we have to pay attention to where we are going and where we are on the airport, AT ALL TIMES! 

 

Know before you go, what to expect, it helps to know what the winds are at your destination, so you at least know which way the aircraft (A/C) will be landing. At small airports that are uncontrolled a vehicle (car/truck) or persons crossing a runway, can be considered an incursion, if an aircraft is landing, taking off, or crossing the runway. The definition of an incursion: “any occurrence at an airport involving the incorrect presence of an aircraft, vehicle or person on the protected area of a surface designated for landing and takeoff of A/C”. (FAA Safety Briefing magazine, March/April 2021, pg 10). 

 

General aviation pilots seem to cause most of the runway incursions, for example, between October 2019 to September 2020, there were 555 runway incursions that caused pilot deviations. (FAA Safety Briefing Magazine). During my career I had a runway incursion at night and in limited visibility, did it just happen? No! There were circumstances that caused me to do this; but as hard as we try we can still make mistakes (human failure). So how do general aviation pilots keep incursions form occurring? A few tips:

Controlled airports (tower ops)

  • Read back all runway crossing or holding instructions (include A/C call sign)

  • If in doubt about a clearance re-ask the controller, until you understand or write down taxi instructions

  • If lost or confused, STOP, ask the controller for “progressive taxi instructions”

  • Use proper radio phraseology (include A/C call sign)

Un-Controlled airports

  • Review airport layout before taxiing

  • Check for traffic before crossing a runway or a grass strip

  • Maintain a listening watch on the appropriate frequency for A/C in the pattern or taxiing

All airports

  • Rotating beacon ON, if needed taxi or landing lights ON (careful with strobes on ground)

  • Know taxi and runway signage, refer to: (AIM section 3 Airport Marking, Pilots Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge Chpt 14 Airport Operations).

  • Heads-Up taxiing: perform required checklists and/or engine run-ups, when parked (brakes set).

  • NOTAMS (required information), know airport Notices (taxi way or runway closures, maintenance, special activities etc). 

 

The FAA takes runway incursions very seriously, when watching they can see what is occurring on airport surfaces, and at the very least you will have meeting at the local FSDO. Possibly fines and/or pilots licensure actions such as suspensions, do occur. 

 

Taxiing is another time for us to practice the Sterile Cockpit concept…make sure your passengers are briefed on this procedure!

 

Fly Safely and Taxi Safely        Check the Weather     File a Flight Plan          

Know where you are

 

Until next time,

Captain Will Rondeau

 

 

References

FAA Safety Briefing Magazine, March/April 2021, Paul Cianciolo, pg 16. 

 


Brenna Allard
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