![]() ![]() The C172 taxied off the ramp, failed to make the turn southbound on Alpha, and taxied instead across Alpha. Take, for example, the following narrative from the FAA’s Daily Event Report on pilot deviations (PD) that shows just how close a disoriented Cessna came from being an accident statistic:Īt Collin County Regional Airport (KTKI) in McKinney, TX, a Cessna 172 pilot was issued taxi instructions to Runway 35 via Taxiway Alpha which was read back correctly. Throw in an unexpected taxi clearance, some marginal weather, and/or a heavy amount of aircraft activity, and you’ve got a recipe for a potentially deadly runway incursion on your hands. With the excitement of the destination in your head, the chatter of anxious passengers and the ubiquitous changes that crop up, it’s understandable that pilots can become distracted and sometimes complacent during taxi. With an average of three runway incursions (RI) each day in the United States, along with the occasional change to taxi clearances and airport markings, it’s always a good idea to regularly review airport surface operations and regard them with the same importance as any other phase of flight. However, as I have learned after several periods of inactivity, keeping yourself up to snuff on airport signage shouldn’t be limited to just your primary flight training days. With four runways and air carrier jets taxiing to and fro, I quickly learned that KISP was no place to wind up somewhere you weren’t supposed to be.ĭespite that initial intimidation, I soon felt comfortable taxiing my way safely around the airport and was glad I invested extra time to learn the ins and outs of airport sign language. Thankfully, my instructor threw me a lifeline and spent time helping me make sense of the airport’s sprawling expanse of taxiways, runways, and ramp areas. The task seemed manageable, but on my first few flights I was more intent on listening for my call sign and straddling the yellow taxi line than trying to decipher the array of multi-colored lines, letters, and numbers all clamoring for my attention. Besides reviewing my newly purchased Cessna 152 manual in the early days of my training, I was also instructed to become thoroughly familiar with the KISP airport diagram. Reprinted with permission from FAA Safety BriefingĪs a student pilot trainee at Long Island’s Mac Arthur Airport (KISP) in Islip, NY, my introduction to navigating around an airport was eye-opening, to say the least. How a Runway Earns It's Stripes Taking the Mystery out of Airport Sign Language ![]()
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