Runway Incursions: Awareness and Avoidance
- Pilots Collective
- Aug 15
- 2 min read
Runway Incursions: Awareness and Avoidance
Pilots Collective Safety Short – August 2025
At Pilots Collective, safety is more than a checklist, it’s a part of our culture. One of the most preventable but high-risk threats in aviation is the runway incursion. Whether you’re flying at a busy Class B airport or a quiet non-towered field, awareness and disciplined habits are key to avoiding this hazard.
What is a Runway Incursion?
The FAA defines a runway incursion as:
Any occurrence at an aerodrome involving the incorrect presence of an aircraft, vehicle, or person on the protected area of a surface designated for the landing and takeoff of aircraft.
What is a surface incident?
A surface incident is an unauthorized or unapproved movement within the designated movement area (excluding runway incursions) or an occurrence in that same area associated with the operation of an aircraft that affects or could affect the safety of flight
This means an incursion can involve more than just aircraft—it could be a maintenance truck, a person on the runway, or even another pilot who misunderstood instructions.
Common Causes:
Communication errors between pilots and ATC or between pilots at non-towered airports
Loss of situational awareness; Especially during high workload phases like taxi or after landing
Missed or misunderstood instructions
Distraction in the cockpit (programming avionics, checklist interruptions, passenger interaction)
Complex or unfamiliar airport layouts
Runway Incursion Avoidance: Best Practices:
1. Brief the Taxi Route Before You Move
Always check the airport diagram before taxiing
Identify hot spots (FAA charts mark these in orange)
Anticipate runway crossings and hold short locations
During Brief: (Taxiing to RWY21L via delta - foxtrot, no runway crossings, no runway hotspots)
2. Use Standardized Readbacks
Read back all runway crossing and hold short instructions verbatim
Include your callsign in every readback for clarity
3. Sterile Cockpit on the Ground
Treat taxi like a takeoff or landing if overloaded or at a new environment and/or unfamiliar route of taxi, no non-essential conversation or distractions
4. Actively Scan for Traffic
Look outside for aircraft on final or rolling on the runway
Use all available tools: ADS-B traffic, airport lighting cues, ATC advisories
5. At Non-Towered Airports: Self-Announce Early and Clearly
Give position, intention, and runway
Monitor the CTAF frequency well before entering the pattern
6. If in Doubt—STOP
Never be afraid to ask ATC to repeat an instruction
If you lose situational awareness, stop and re-orient using the airport diagram
Ask for progressive taxi instructions from the tower.
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