Wisconsin Aeronautics Report –
by Jeffery Taylor, Aviation Consultant
Taxiing an aircraft safely on the airport presents many unique challenges to a pilot. At no other time during your flight will you be closer to so many other aircraft or obstructions, all while trying to find your way through a complex web of ramps and taxiways. The Wisconsin Bureau of Aeronautics, along with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), is working to make this phase of flight safer by improving airport geometry, marking and signage, and the phraseology used by Air Traffic Control (ATC) to better communicate taxi instructions.
Airport geometry – the layout of taxiways and runways – plays an important role in safe airport operations. At La Crosse Municipal Airport (LSE) we eliminated a “hot spot” by realigning taxiway F so that pilots taxiing out for takeoff on runway 36 can’t make a partial turn onto runway 3 and mistakenly take-off on the wrong (and shorter) runway. In Milwaukee at General Mitchell International Airport (MKE), we realigned taxiways M and N near runway 25L, eliminating another “hot spot.”
Changing the alignment at La Crosse and Milwaukee has helped reduce the risk of an incursion, but other hot spots remain in Wisconsin. At Dane County Regional Airport in Madison, pilots should pay close attention to the closely aligned runway intersections at B4 and A4, which are hold short positions for both 18/36 and 3/21. In addition, A2 is a hold short position for both runways 14 and 18.
In Janesville at Southern Wisconsin Regional Airport (JVL), runways 32 and 36 have closely aligned approach ends, so pay close attention to your compass heading as you line up prior to departure.
To help pilots understand where these potentially confusing “hot spots” are, both Jeppesen and FAA’s AeroNav Services are noting their locations on most airport diagrams.
The bureau has several other projects designed to improve airport operations. We are building full length parallel taxiways at Mauston-New Lisbon Union Airport (82C) and Merrill Municipal Airport (RRL). In addition, high intensity runway lights will be installed on the primary runway 1/19 at Rice Lake Regional Airport (RPD).
This year we are re-painting runway markings at 10 airports to improve situational awareness for pilots.
Changes In Taxi Phraseology
Earlier this summer a major change was made in the phraseology air traffic controllers use when issuing taxi instructions. Previously, “taxi to” clearances authorized pilots to cross any runway along the assigned route except the assigned takeoff runway. Now, controllers must issue explicit clearances to pilots crossing any runway along the taxi route. In addition, pilots crossing multiple runways must be past the first runway they are cleared to cross before controllers can issue the next runway-crossing clearance.
Now clearances are very exact. The controller will state the departure runway, followed by the specific taxi route and issue hold short restrictions when an aircraft will be required to hold short of a runway or other points along the taxi route. An example would be: “Runway Three Six, taxi via Alpha, Charlie, cross Runway One Zero.”
The elimination of the “taxi to” phrase will apply only to departing aircraft. Arriving aircraft will still hear the phrase “taxi to” when instructed to taxi to the gate or ramp. However, controllers in these situations will still be required to issue specific crossing instructions for each runway encountered on the taxi route.
“Line Up and Wait” Is The New “Position and Hold”
Since September 30, 2010, controllers are using 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. This change was designed to help simplify and standardize phraseology, as well as to comply with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards.
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 speaking pilots 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 pilots everywhere on the same standard.
An example of the clearance: Tower: “Piper 787BA, Runway 21, line up and wait.”
Pilot: “ABC Tower, Piper 787BA, Runway 21, line up and wait.”
Be careful with a Line up and Wait clearance. Studies have shown that if you have not received takeoff clearance after 90 seconds of waiting on the runway, the odds that you have been forgotten have dramatically increased. If a couple of minutes have passed, ask the controller when to expect takeoff clearance. Maintaining situational awareness is mandatory while operating on the runway.
Surface Painted Hold Signs
By the end of 2010, all Part 139 or “air carrier” airports will have hold signs similar to the mounted vertical signs painted on the pavement surface at the hold short position (see photo). This is a tool airports are using to help pilots understand their location on the airport and where they are in respect to the hold short line.
Best Practices For Incursion Prevention
• Use an airport diagram while taxiing. We use charts in the air. Why not use charts on the ground, especially at unfamiliar airports?
• Visually confirm that a runway is clear before entering or crossing it, even when cleared by an air traffic controller. Trust, but verify.
• If you are unsure of your clearance, stop and figure it out and ask for help.
• Maintain a “sterile cockpit” when taxiing. Your flight began when the engine started.
• Focus your attention outside the cockpit. Be on the lookout for other aircraft, vehicles and people.
80 percent of all incursions occur when a pilot fails to hold short of the hold line, and a majority are committed by General Aviation pilots during the taxi-for-takeoff phase of flight. Study airport signage and markings. Understand ATC’s proper phraseology and if you are unsure, always ask for clarification. Together, we can all make operating on the airport a safer place.
