Runway incursions continue to rank among the most persistent hazards in civil aviation, the FAA says, and to increase awareness the agency has published an InFO, or Information for Flight Operators, alert. Awareness of pertinent FAA regulations and a clear understanding of every taxi clearance are essential defenses for pilots against incursions, the FAA alert says. For example, FAA regulations state that clearance to “taxi to” the takeoff runway is not a clearance to cross that runway. Other relevant regulations are reviewed in the InFO alert. The FAA suggests that pilots and instructors should be sure that they clearly understand regulations regarding taxi clearances and the meaning of taxi clearances issued by ground controllers. Further, they should understand the meaning of signs, markings and lighting such as runway guard lights (“wig-wag lights”) designed to alert pilots that they are approaching an active runway. And, finally, they should understand that a pilot can call upon ground controllers for help before taxiing or at any time while taxiing.
