2008 Woodie Awards
Runway incursions pose major risk
Rob Robinson
Issue date: 9/14/06 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
The hot button topic of the moment for the FAA happens to be runway incursion. There has been a large increase in the number of reported incidents and the FAA has hopped onto the topic full speed ahead with seminars, advisory circulars, videos and many other attempts to get the word out. The bottom line is know where you are, know where you are going, and do not go anywhere you're not supposed to. Here are some tips to help you accomplish all three.
Know where you are.
Review airport layouts as part of your pre-flight planning. The FAA has hundreds of airport layouts available to download for free. They mainly cover busier airports but you can also find airport layouts through various web sites including AOPA.
Know airport signage.
Undoubtedly we've all looked through the AIM at some point and marveled at all the pretty pictures, so take some time to review what all those colors, letters and numbers are trying to tell you.
Know where you are going.
Request progressive taxi instructions from ATC when unsure of taxi route. Do not be too embarrassed at an unfamiliar airport to ask for help. That's what they are there for!
Write down complex taxi instructions. This does not only apply to unfamiliar airports. We get complacent with getting the usual taxi clearances here that when a taxi way closes or a different runway is being used, people get confused.
Do not go where you are not supposed to.
Read back all runway crossing and/or hold instructions. One of the most important tips in that it will help ensure that ATC gave you the proper instructions and that you heard them correctly.
Study and use proper phraseology in order to understand and respond to ground control instructions. Do not try to be a maverick and talk to ground control using slang you may have heard at your home town airport. Proper phraseology makes everything you say on the radio understood by everyone listening and gives everyone a better picture of what everyone else is doing.
The most important rule for preventing runway incursion is if you are confused and/or lost on the airport, STOP (not on a runway) and ASK before proceeding any further. If you're not sure if you have clearance across a runway, ASK. If the taxi instructions do not make sense, ASK.
Several references exist covering preventing runway incursions and all have good tips to help keep you out of trouble. The Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge is probably your primary source but the ERAU Flight Operations Manual also has helpful tips as well as the FAA's Advisory Circular 91-73.
Know where you are.
Review airport layouts as part of your pre-flight planning. The FAA has hundreds of airport layouts available to download for free. They mainly cover busier airports but you can also find airport layouts through various web sites including AOPA.
Know airport signage.
Undoubtedly we've all looked through the AIM at some point and marveled at all the pretty pictures, so take some time to review what all those colors, letters and numbers are trying to tell you.
Know where you are going.
Request progressive taxi instructions from ATC when unsure of taxi route. Do not be too embarrassed at an unfamiliar airport to ask for help. That's what they are there for!
Write down complex taxi instructions. This does not only apply to unfamiliar airports. We get complacent with getting the usual taxi clearances here that when a taxi way closes or a different runway is being used, people get confused.
Do not go where you are not supposed to.
Read back all runway crossing and/or hold instructions. One of the most important tips in that it will help ensure that ATC gave you the proper instructions and that you heard them correctly.
Study and use proper phraseology in order to understand and respond to ground control instructions. Do not try to be a maverick and talk to ground control using slang you may have heard at your home town airport. Proper phraseology makes everything you say on the radio understood by everyone listening and gives everyone a better picture of what everyone else is doing.
The most important rule for preventing runway incursion is if you are confused and/or lost on the airport, STOP (not on a runway) and ASK before proceeding any further. If you're not sure if you have clearance across a runway, ASK. If the taxi instructions do not make sense, ASK.
Several references exist covering preventing runway incursions and all have good tips to help keep you out of trouble. The Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge is probably your primary source but the ERAU Flight Operations Manual also has helpful tips as well as the FAA's Advisory Circular 91-73.
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