Out of 56.6 million takeoffs and landings in the U.S. National Airspace System last year, the FAA documented 1,667 runway incursions at towered airports, including commercial airline operations, general aviation flights and other aviation related activity.
In general, the FAA defines runway incursions as “the incorrect presence of an aircraft, vehicle or person in a protected area of a surface designated for the landing or takeoff of an aircraft.”
Runway incursions can easily happen to any pilot, regardless of experience, Air Traffic Controller Bridget Singratanakul of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), said during an education session at the Feb. 26 NBAA Orlando Regional Forum. “We need to make sure that we don’t become complacent.”
“From a data perspective it’s challenging to differentiate how many of the total documented runway incursions were related to business aviation,” added NBAA Senior Director, Airport Advocacy and Vertical Infrastructure Alex Gertsen. Many business aviation flights operate under Part 91 regulations, Gertsen said, so it’s impossible to separate them from data for non-business aviation flights such as recreational flights, training flights or other types of flight activity.
“It’s clear that we all need to recommit ourselves to safe operations,” said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen during his opening remarks at the forum. “We have in the United States the largest, safest, most diverse and most efficient air transportation system in the world, but we’re not satisfied. What we’re doing in pursuing aviation safety is pursuing perfection.”
Typical Factors Behind Runway Incursions
Gertsen and Singratanakul shared three common factors that are typically behind these potentially dangerous events:
- An air traffic controller has cleared an aircraft to land or depart on occupied runway
- A pilot has failed to hold short of runway as instructed
- An airport vehicle driver has entered a runway without authorization or failed to hold short of a runway
Under certain conditions, the risk for runway incursions is higher. Primary risk factors include:
- Pilot loss of situational awareness
- Airport geometry (offset parallel runways)
- Airport construction/signage
- ATC/pilot miscommunication during hear-back/read-back
- Airport lighting
- Landing into the sun
- Pilot fatigue
Never Assume
Assuming a pilot has specific knowledge or assuming that a controller may be aware of a specific set of facts could be a recipe for disaster. Never assume a controller is differentiating similar call signs or that the controller can see your aircraft anywhere on the airport surface. Don’t assume the controller understands the unique flying aspects of your aircraft.
On the flip side, controllers should not assume a pilot is experienced and proficient or that a pilot understands the airport layout. Controllers shouldn’t assume their communications with pilots are always accurate and complete.
Mitigating Risk
Singratanakul and Gertsen recommended several ways pilots can mitigate the risk of runway incursions:
- Focus flight planning on the specific airports you’re using
- Use standardized procedures for runway related operations
- Pay special attention to runway status light
“The red lights are an indication that the runway itself is unsafe, and they are designed with algorithms in the background to be fully passive for the controller,” Singratanakul said. “It’s important to understand: Controllers do not know when the runway status red lights are on or off. If the controller clears you for takeoff and you see red lights, you need to stop. You should tell the controller you see red lights and do not go anywhere.”
Repeat and Confirm
It’s always a good idea to repeat a controller’s command to yourself after acknowledging it to ATC. “You repeat it as many times as necessary, out loud,” said Singratanakul. “Verbally get confirmation from your copilot or captain or whoever you’re flying with.”
“Sometimes the controller might misspeak our call sign,” said Gertsen, a longtime pilot. “I always come back and double check.”
“If you think you’re going to need more time than usual when you’re coming out into the runway after you’re cleared for takeoff, it’s a good idea to let the controller know, because they’re expecting you to roll right away, and they might be sequencing other aircraft on final approach with that expectation,” said Singratanakul.
Runway Incursions Are Decreasing
FAA statistics from 2023 to 2024 showed a significant reduction in the overall rate of documented runway incursions – dropping from 33.532 incursions per 1 million operations to 29.489. That’s a decrease of 12.1%.
And serious runway incursions – when a collision is narrowly avoided or there’s a significant potential for collision – plummeted from .400 per 1 million operations to .124 – a 69% drop.
International Business Aviation Council Ltd.