Airport Operations

Pilot Deviations (PDs) Runway Incursion Avoidance A pilot deviation (PD) is an action of a pilot that violates any A runway incursion is “any occurrence in the airport runway Federal Aviation Regulation. While PDs should be avoided, environment involving an aircraft, vehicle, person, or object the regulations do authorize deviations from a clearance in on the ground that creates a collision hazard or results in a loss response to a traffic alert and collision avoidance of required separation with an aircraft taking off, intending system resolution advisory. You must notify ATC as soon as to take off, landing, or intending to land.” It is important possible following a deviation. to give the same attention to operating on the surface as in other phases of flights. Proper planning can prevent runway Pilot deviations can occur in several different incursions and the possibility of a ground collision. A pilot ways. Airborne deviations result when a pilot should always be aware of the aircraft’s position on the strays from an assigned heading or altitude or from surface at all times and be aware of other aircraft and vehicle an instrument procedure, or if the pilot penetrates operations on the airport. At times, towered airports can be controlled or restricted airspace without ATC clearance. busy and taxi instructions complex. In this situation, it may be advisable to write down taxi instructions. The following To prevent airborne deviations, follow these steps: are some practices to help prevent a runway incursion: • Plan each flight—you may have flown the flight many times before but conditions and situations can change • Read back all runway crossing and/or hold rapidly, such as in the case of a pop-up temporary instructions. flight restriction (TFR). Take a few minutes prior to • Review airport layouts as part of preflight each flight to plan accordingly. planning, before descending to land and while • Talk and squawk—Proper communication with ATC taxiing, as needed. has its benefits. Flight following often makes the • Know airport signage. controller’s job easier because they can better integrate VFR and IFR traffic. • Review NOTAM for information on runway/ taxiway closures and construction areas. • Give yourself some room—GPS is usually more precise than ATC radar. Using your GPS to fly up • Request progressive taxi instructions from ATC to and along the line of the airspace you are trying to when unsure of the taxi route. avoid could result in a pilot deviation because ATC • Check for traffic before crossing any runway hold radar may show you within the restricted airspace. line and before entering a taxiway. Ground deviations (also called surface deviations) include • Turn on aircraft lights and the rotating beacon or taxiing, taking off, or landing without clearance, deviating strobe lights while taxing. from an assigned taxi route, or failing to hold short of an • When landing, clear the active runway as soon assigned clearance limit. To prevent ground deviations, stay as possible, then wait for taxi instructions before alert during ground operations. Pilot deviations can and further movement. frequently do occur on the ground. Many strategies and tactics pilots use to avoid airborne deviations also work on the ground. • Study and use proper phraseology in order to understand and respond to ground control Pilots should also remain vigilant about vehicle/pedestrian instructions. deviations (V/PDs). A vehicle or pedestrian • Write down complex taxi instructions at deviation includes pedestrians, vehicles or other objects unfamiliar airports. interfering with aircraft operations by entering or moving on the runway movement area without Approximately three runway incursions occur each day at authorization from air traffic control. In serious towered airports within the United States. The potential instances, any ground deviation (PD or VPD) can result that these numbers present for a catastrophic accident in a runway incursion. Best practices in preventing is unacceptable. The following are examples of pilot ground deviations can be found in the following section deviations, operational incidents (OI), and vehicle (driver) under runway incursion avoidance. deviations that may lead to runway incursions. 14-31