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121 aircrews have all been there: A push for an “on time” departure, leads to a rushed pushback, then as they begin radio calls to company and ATC for their release and clearances, complete preflight paperwork, finish inputting the flight plan, check the weather—suddenly as the they cross Runway X, and a pilot asks the crewmate: “Were we cleared to cross Runway X...right?” He or she looks over and says, “I don’t know.”
Corporate pilots have had this experience as well, as have flight instructors and general aviation pilots. You know how it goes: you are at a large airport, one perhaps you have been to many times, or perhaps one you are not remotely familiar with the layout, when that warning system goes off. Not a loud, bright light in the cockpit, but that internal, nagging warning called ‘intuition’. It is trying to tell us something is not right. Are we where we are supposed to be? Did I understand ATC’s instructions? Where is that other aircraft? We get distracted, confused, or too focused on one thing, that one thing trying to convince us that we are right…or are we? You could be dead right.
Note: This course uses only one example of the many possibilities available to illustrate possible mistakes pilots, controllers, and others may commit to allow a runway incursion to occur. Each airmen is strongly encouraged to review other such examples to more fully understand your role in maintaining runway safety. More information on runway safety can be found at the FAA's runway safety site:
http://www.faa.gov/airports/runway_safety/
We also want to remind all pilots and vehicle drivers that the rules changed, effective June 30, 2010, in respect to explicit runway crossing procedures. Here is a brief summation to help you begin to understand the role these changes will play in all airmen's thinking and planning for each flight or ramp activity:
Explicit Runway Crossing Procedure Change
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Beginning June 30, 2010, controllers will be required to issue explicit instructions to cross or hold short of each runway that intersects a taxi route.
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"Taxi to" will no longer be used when issuing taxi instructions to an assigned take-off runway.
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Instructions to cross a runway will be issued one at a time. Instructions to cross multiple runways will not be issued. An aircraft or vehicle must have crossed the previous runway before another runway crossing is issued.
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This applies to any runway including inactive or closed runways.
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Changes have be made to the Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM) and Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP) to reflect the new procedures.
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Never cross a hold line without explicit ATC instructions. If in doubt ASK!
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Reminder: You may not enter a runway unless you have been: instructed to cross or taxi onto that specific runway; cleared to take off from that runway; or instructed to position and hold on that specific runway.
For more information on the change, refer to FAA Order N JO 7110.532, Section 7. Taxi and Ground Movement Procedures which can be found at:
http://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/atpubs/atc/atc0307.html#atc0307.html.2
"Line Up and Wait" in preparation for takeoff
You do it at the movie theater, the supermarket, as well as your favorite coffee shop on the way to work: You line up and wait. And, after September 30, 2010, you may also be asked to do it at your local towered airport.
Designed to help simplify and standardize air traffic control (ATC) phraseology, as well as to comply with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards, U.S. controllers will use the term “line up and wait” in place of “position and hold” when instructing a pilot to taxi onto a departure runway and wait for takeoff clearance. Both current and future versions of the phrase are used when takeoff clearance cannot immediately be issued, either because of traffic or other reasons.
Why “line up and wait?” The phrase has actually been in use by a majority of ICAO contracting states for many years. It has proven useful with many non-native English speakers who can sometimes confuse “position and hold” with similar-sounding phrases like “position and roll,” “position at hold,” or “hold position.” Misinterpretation of this instruction can have serious consequences. Using “line up and wait” helps avoid ambiguity and keeps the global aviation community accountable to the same standard.
Here’s an example of the phrase in use:
Tower: “Cessna 1234, Runway Three Four Left, line up and wait.”
Pilot: “XYZ Tower, Cessna 1234, Runway Three Four Left, line upand wait.”
At press time, this change was expected to take effect September 30, 2010. The specific date and additional details will be communicated via updates to the Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM) and Pilot/Controller Glossary, both located under the Air Traffic section of
www.faa.gov
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