Hal Davis
WisDOT Bureau of Aeronautics
You would think everyone has enough common sense not to sunbathe on a runway, and yet, I’ve heard it’s happened. There’s also no denying that a quiet runway also makes for a very tempting makeshift drag strip.
If you’ve hung around airports long enough, you too have probably heard of, or seen firsthand, people tempting fate and endangering the lives of others by driving or walking on taxiways and runways, otherwise known as the movement area. Sure, some people, like the sunbathers, might not understand how airports work and are not aware of the danger they are in. However, it seems that more often than not, the cause of incidents involving vehicles or pedestrians at airports is (gasp) a local pilot or airport personnel.
As pilots, we like to think we know our local airport like the back of our hand. So you ask, what’s the big deal if I take a shortcut across the runway to get to my buddy’s hangar on the opposite side of the field or if I walk out to the hold short line to watch a plane take off or land?
First, it’s probably illegal, as it should be. In Wisconsin, there are 86 airports that have a local ordinance controlling vehicular and pedestrian traffic at the airport. Most have standard language prohibiting both vehicular and pedestrian traffic on any airport runway, taxiway, ramp, tie down area, or outlying areas of the airport. These ordinances apply to all types of pedestrian or vehicular traffic, such as bikes, golf carts, motorcycles, ATVs, etc.
It’s one thing to have a law in place; it’s another to enforce it. Signs will educate some people, and fences and gates might deter others, but ultimately, reporting vehicles and pedestrians on the runway to airport personnel or law enforcement is the most effective method of preventing an incident. That’s where you come in! Very few airports are staffed 24/7, so remaining vigilant is important any time you are at the airport.
Secondly, the incorrect or unauthorized presence of a vehicle or pedestrian on a runway meets the Federal Aviation Administration’s definition of a runway incursion. Reducing the number of runway incursions remains a top priority for FAA and is a critical step toward further improving aviation safety. In the Great Lakes Region alone, vehicles and pedestrians caused 23 reported runway incursions in 2014. I’d venture to guess some incidents went unreported as well. Fortunately, the majority of runway incursions are not so severe that an actual collision takes place. However, the sheer number of incursions means the risk of a collision is very real.
It’s not just local pilots and people looking for a tan that are the problem…airport personnel can find themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time as well. In general, access to the movement area should be limited to only those activities necessary to support the operational activity of the airport. In addition, service roads should be used as much as possible to minimize time spent on the runways and taxiways.
Whether plowing snow, cutting grass, or inspecting the airfield, extended time on the movement area may be unavoidable. In this case, having the necessary equipment, proper training and situational awareness are all crucial to staying safe and avoiding trouble.
At a minimum, all vehicles entering the movement area should have a working radio capable of communicating with air traffic control or monitoring and transmitting on the common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF). If a particular vehicle does not have a radio, it should be escorted by a vehicle that does.
Next, the vehicle should be highly visible. Especially if accessing the movement area at night or during inclement weather, high beams, flashers and a yellow beacon should all be installed and operational.
Finally, any vehicle entering the movement area should be in good working condition. The runway is not a good place to find out that strange noise the vehicle had been making was more serious than you thought.
FAA recommends that anyone driving on the airport go through training. The curriculum will vary greatly on the characteristics of the airport and where the individual will be driving. For example, someone just driving to their hangar should understand where they are authorized to drive, speed limits and the location of acceptable parking areas. Conversely, someone driving on the movement area should additionally have a very strong understanding of the airfield layout, the meaning of airfield signs and markings, and proper radio communication procedures.
The final critical element for staying out of trouble is good “situational awareness.” Maintaining good situational awareness can be significantly more challenging while simultaneously performing other tasks, like snow plowing; operating in degraded conditions, like a blizzard; or when coping with other factors such as fatigue, stress, or running behind schedule. Sound familiar? Undoubtedly, airport employees regularly face these types of conditions over the winter months.
Good situational awareness starts with closely monitoring the Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF) or air traffic control frequencies to know where aircraft are at all times and their intentions. By doing so, the vehicle operator is afforded plenty of time to anticipate any conflicts and get out of the way. At an uncontrolled airport, vehicles should also regularly announce their position and intentions, especially when operating on movement areas for an extended amount of time. Approaching aircraft may not have been previously tuned in to hear the vehicle’s initial radio transmission.
In summary, no matter why you are driving or even walking around an airport, remember aircraft always have the right-of-way, except when air traffic control has specifically instructed otherwise; make sure you know where you are legally allowed to be and report questionable activity to airport management or law enforcement; avoid entering the movement area unless it’s absolutely necessary; and if you need to enter the movement area, make sure you have the proper equipment, training and maintain good situational awareness at all times.
