A runway incursion is any occurrence at an airport involving an aircraft, vehicle, person, or object on the ground that creates a collision hazard or results in a loss of separation with an aircraft taking off, landing, or intending to land. Proper planning can prevent runway incursions and the possibility of ground collisions. There are about 3 runway incursions each day at towered airports in the United States, of which 65% are caused by pilots (according to the FAA). --- # Contributing Factors to Runway Incursions There are three main contributing factors that lead to runway incursions: - Communications - Airport knowledge - Flight deck procedures for maintaining orientation ## Common Deviations that Lead to Runway Incursions ### Pilot Deviations - Crossing a runway hold marking without a clearance - Taking off without a clearance - Landing without a clearance ### Operational Incidents - Clearing an aircraft onto a runway while another aircraft is landing on the same runway - Issuing a takeoff clearance while the runway is occupied by another aircraft or vehicle ### Vehicle Deviations - Crossing a runway hold marking without a clearance ## Causal Factors of Runway Incursions - Failure to comply with ATC instructions - Lack of airport familiarity --- # Sterile Cockpit During any critical phase of flight, it is imperative that pilots are not being distracted by nonessential activities or conversations. Make sure to refrain from anything distracting during: - Taxi - Takeoff - Climb-out - Approach - Landing --- # ![[Taxiing Safely]] --- # Hold Short Instructions and Markings Hold short lines are located before a runway and can be identified by double solid yellow lines followed by double dashed yellow lines. ![[airport hold short marking.avif]] > Dash through the dash, stop at the solid Never cross the hold short markings without a clearance to enter a runway. If you are cleared to taxi on a route that would cross any runway, and you were not issued a clearance to cross, always assume that you cannot cross that runway without permission. When doing a runup in front of the hold short markings, if a runup area is not available, make sure to keep your feet hard on the brakes, even if you have the parking break engaged. --- # Line Up and Wait (LUAW) Operations A line up and wait clearance is a clearance to enter a runway and hold in position for takeoff. It is NOT a takeoff clearance. If you hear "traffic holding in position," it means that there is an aircraft currently holding on the runway waiting to takeoff. If you do not receive a takeoff clearance after 90 seconds of getting a line up and wait instruction, contact ATC. Controllers are not perfect, and you need to make sure that they haven't forgotten you are waiting on an active runway. ATC is required to inform you of landing traffic when issuing a clearance. It will sound something like this: > Skyhawk N1234, runway one eight, line up and wait, traffic a Cessna 210 on a six-mile final --- # Runway Shortened Operations If a runway is shortened for some reason, it will be included in NOTAMs and the ATIS broadcast. These should always be checked before any flight. When issuing a takeoff, LUAW, or landing clearance, ATC will indicate that not all of the runway is usable by saying "shortened." If the runway is permanently shortened, ATC will use the "shortened" indicator until the chart supplement is updated. ATC clearances for takeoff and landing will also include the runway length available. --- # Runway Confusion It may seem difficult to imagine landing on the incorrect runway or a taxiway, but there have been many cases of this happening. ## Factors leading to runway confusion - Airport complexity - Close proximity of runway thresholds - Parallel runways - Joint use of a runway as a taxiway The risk of runway confusion can be minimized by proper preflight planning and briefing all takeoffs and landings. ## Things to consider on takeoff - Write down which runway you were assigned - Check before entering the runway that the signage indicates the correct runway and taxiway intersection - Be cautious of parallel runways and make sure you are approaching the correct one - When entering the runway, double check that the correct number is written down on the pavement - Make sure that your compass aligns with the runway heading ## Things to consider on landing - Runways at some airports can be used as taxiways - Make sure you write down you cleared runway assignment and double check it with your compass and with the writing on the runway - Be mindful that unique lighting, especially at night, can give a false indication of a runway. Make sure to be extra cautious --- # Exiting the Runway After Landing Only turn off of a runway when you are at a safe speed. Once you have slowed down, exit the runway relatively briskly and make sure to be clear of the hold short markings. NEVER exit a runway onto an intersecting runway without a clearance from ATC. If you are cleared to exit onto an intersecting runway, make sure you are clear of the active runway and then remain in position before getting taxi instructions. --- ## Engineered Materials Arresting Systems Engineered Materials Arresting Systems, or EMAS, are special materials that are designed to slow down an aircraft past the end of a runway. These are common at airports that were built before the 1000 foot runway safety area was adopted. ---