| The following is the FAA guideline for commercial pilots | | | | Outreach to Pilots |
| about reducing runway incursions. As a flight training | | | | The majority of runway incursions are caused by pilots |
| student, it is important to review this so you will have a | | | | in violation of regulations and air traffic control |
| better understanding of what a commercial pilot does. | | | | instructions — also known as pilot deviations. The |
| This guideline helps pilots improve their safety | | | | FAA completed an analysis of taxi clearances and |
| standards and it keeps them sharp and vigilant. Flight | | | | found that more explicit instructions are needed from |
| training students should continually visit the FAA | | | | controllers to pilots. The FAA has issued new |
| website for all kinds of important information. | | | | requirements for controllers to give explicit directions to |
| What is a Runway Incursion? | | | | pilots on precise routes to travel from the gate to the |
| A runway incursion is any unauthorized intrusion onto a | | | | runway. The FAA has also issued new requirements |
| runway, regardless of whether or not an aircraft | | | | for aircraft to have crossed all intervening runways |
| presents a potential conflict. This is the international | | | | prior to receiving a takeoff clearance. Future |
| standard, as defined by the International Civil Aviation | | | | requirements will cover runway crossing clearances, |
| Organization and adopted by the FAA in fiscal year | | | | take off and landing clearances and the adaptation of |
| 2008. | | | | international surface phraseology. |
| It is important to note that the FAA formerly tracked | | | | Other Outreach Efforts: |
| incidents that did not involve potential aircraft conflicts | | | | The FAA published a booklet for pilots, which highlights |
| as surface incidents. These incidents were not | | | | communication procedures for safe surface |
| classified as “runway incursions” and were | | | | operations at towered and non-towered airports. |
| tracked and monitored separately. Most of these | | | | The agency, in association with the Aircraft Owners |
| events are now considered Category C or D | | | | and Pilots Association (AOPA), created two online |
| incursions, which are low-risk incidents with either no | | | | courses that educate pilots on runway safety. |
| conflict potential or ample time or distance to avoid a | | | | One is tailored for commercial aviation pilots and the |
| collision. This means that the total number of runway | | | | other for general aviation pilots. |
| incursion reports increased primarily because surface | | | | Every year, the FAA conducts hundreds of safety |
| incidents are now classified as runway incursions. | | | | seminars across the country to encourage safe |
| Types of Runway Incursions | | | | practices on the airfield. |
| There are four categories of runway incursions: | | | | The role of Flight Service Station specialists was |
| - Category A is a serious incident in which a collision | | | | expanded to provide runway safety information to |
| was narrowly avoided | | | | pilots using towered and non-towered airports. |
| - Category B is an incident in which separation | | | | FAA Aviation Safety Inspectors now verify that pilots |
| decreases and there is a significant potential for | | | | have current surface movement charts (airport |
| collision, which may result in a time critical corrective | | | | diagrams) available and that they are in use. |
| evasive response to avoid a collision. | | | | The FAA, in conjunction with AOPA and the National |
| - Category C is an incident characterized by ample | | | | Association of Flight Instructors, recently sent a |
| time and/or distance to avoid a collision. | | | | runway safety brochure and a DVD with four relevant |
| - Category D is an incident that meets the definition of | | | | runway safety videos to U.S. pilots and flight |
| runway incursion such as incorrect presence of a | | | | instructors. |
| single vehicle/person/aircraft on the protected area of | | | | Runway Safety |
| a surface designated for the landing and take-off of | | | | The reduction in the number and severity of runway |
| aircraft but with no immediate safety consequences. | | | | incursions is one of the FAA's top priorities. The |
| Background | | | | number of serious runway incursions — classified as |
| Pilots made more than 50 million takeoffs and landings | | | | Categories A and B — dropped by more than 63 |
| in fiscal year 2009 at U.S. airports with air traffic | | | | percent from fiscal year 2000 through fiscal year |
| control towers. These operations were handled by | | | | 2008. In fiscal year 2009 — which ended Sept. 30 |
| about 15,000 air traffic controllers at more than 500 | | | | — there were 12 serious runway incursions, 50 |
| towered airports. Adding to this complex choreography | | | | percent fewer than the previous fiscal year. Two of |
| are the hundreds of thousands of individuals who drive | | | | the serious incursions involved commercial aircraft and |
| vehicles on airport grounds. | | | | were considered operational errors. All categories of |
| The sheer number of flights, people, and vehicles | | | | runway incursions were down by six percent in fiscal |
| moving across airport runways and taxiways means | | | | year 2009 versus fiscal year 2008 — 951 in 2009 |
| there is no single way to reduce runway incursions. | | | | compared to 1009 in 2008. |
| Runway safety is a shared responsibility among pilots, | | | | As the flight student continues to advance towards |
| controllers, and vehicle drivers. Automated warning | | | | graduation, he or she will be using the FAA website |
| systems enhance runway safety, but education and | | | | more and more. It has a wealth of information that is |
| situational awareness are the keys to preventing | | | | vital for a successful commercial pilot career. |
| incursions. | | | | |