Best Practices for Taxi Operations at Towered & Non-Towered Airports

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Best Practices for Taxi Operations at Towered & Non-Towered Airports

Section 4

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Challenges facing Air Crews and Air Traffic Controllers

•Taxi operations may be difficult and hazardous

•Aircrew workload during taxi has increased

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Technology improvements at airports have not kept pace with demand

•Air traffic volume increases yearly

•Air Traffic System is more complex

•Airport layout design is more complicated

Challenges facing Air Crews and Air Traffic Controllers

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Taxi Operations at Towered Airports

Conduct Pre-Taxi Planning•Study airport diagram BEFORE taxi

•Identify complex intersections and potential runway crossings

•Plan timing of checklists and conduct them while stopped

•Plan timing of company communications

•Listen to ATIS

CAUTION: Follow the taxi clearance or instructions that are ACTUALLY received and not those EXPECTED to be received.

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•Copying complex taxi instructions can reduce a pilot’s vulnerability to forgetting.

“Cessna 34 Papa Uniform, taxi to Runway 19 right, at Alpha 3 intersection departure, via Taxiway Charlie to Taxiway Alpha, hold short of Runway 19 right.”

NOTE: Common sense should be used in determining this need. Don’t be afraid to ask for “progressive taxi directions”

Write Down Taxi Instructions

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•Be vigilant if instructed to “taxi into position and hold”

•Be extremely cautious when directed to use a runway as a taxiway

Maintain Situational Awareness

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Monitor ATC instructions issued to other aircraft

LOOK before crossing intersecting taxiways or runways

Maintain Situational Awareness (con’t)

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Use extra caution

At Night

or in periods of reduced visibility

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Use utmost caution when exiting the runway if the exit taxiway intersects with another runway

(see next three examples)


Know where you are and where you’re going

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4

D

D

Following landing, blue aircraft has been instructed to “hold short” Runway 4. Blue aircraft is expected to hold at this position even if the aircraft has not cleared the landing runway and remains inside the safety area for Runway 35. Follow ATC instructions.

35

Runway S

afet

y Are

a fo

r 4

Ru

nw

ay S

afet

y A

rea

fo

r 35

35

4

Note: Because of the relative short Taxiway D stub, the hold markings are not SEQUENCED in the “usual order” as one would expect to see exiting either runway.

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32L

32R

Runway Safety Area 14L/32R

Following landing, the orange aircraft has been instructed to “hold short” Runway 14L. THE ORANGE AIRCRAFT IS EXPECTED TO HOLD AT THIS POSITION EVEN IF IT HAS NOT CLEARED THE LANDING RUNWAY AND REMAINS INSIDE THE SAFETY AREA FOR RUNWAY 14R/32L. (black circle)

Runway Safety Area 14R/32L

14R

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32L


Runway Safety Area 14R/32L


Following landing the blue aircraft is expected to clear the hold position marking associated with the landing runway (black circle) unless otherwise instructed by ATC. The orange aircraft has been instructed to “hold short” Runway 14L.

32R

14R

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Coordinate Crew Communications

•On taxi instructions for takeoff

•On identifying runway intersections

•On identifying the correct departure runway

•On performing other “heads down” cockpit tasks

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Coordinate Crew Communications

•On landing and hold short clearance

•On ATC instructions to parking

•Before crossing hold short lines

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Maintain the “Communication Loop”

•Maintain a “sterile cockpit”

•Use standard ATC phraseology

•Focus on what ATC is instructing

•Read back all hold short and runway crossing instructions.

NOTE: Air Traffic Controllers are required to obtain from the pilot a readback of all runway hold short instructions

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THE TWO MOST COMMON PILOT ERRORS RESULT IN RUNWAY INCURSIONS ARE:

•Taxiing onto the runway after acknowledging

ATC “hold short” instructions.

•Taking off without clearance.

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Potential “TRAPAircraft #1 is holding on the runway for an intersection departure runway 14 at taxiway Echo while aircraft #2, is told to “taxi into position and hold”.

A/C 2

A/C 1As the pilot of either aircraft,

what should you be listening for?

Answer: ATC will soon give takeoff clearance to one of the aircraft holding on the runway. Ensure that clearance is directed to A/C 1.

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Aircraft # 1 is landing runway 35L and told to “If able, turn right Taxiway Kilo” while aircraft # 2 is given landing clearance to same runway.

A/C 2

A/C 1

As the pilot of aircraft 2,

what are you expecting to happen?

Answer: As pilot of A/C 2 you are expecting A/C 1 to clear the runway prior to your crossing the runway threshold or ATC to instruct you to “go around”.

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•PRIOR TO TAXI, have a copy of and be familiar with the airport diagram

•Use the compass or heading display to supplement orientation

•Use all resources during “low” visibility taxiing

•If uncertain of position, STOP and advise ATC

•Inform ATC of any delay on runway when crossing or taking off

Keep “Heads UP” When Taxiing

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DO NOT exit onto another runway after landing without ATC clearance.

DO NOT stop on a runway. If possible, taxi off the runway and then initiate communications with ATC to

regain your orientation.

CAUTION

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Recommend Review Advisory Circulars

AC 91-73 and AC 120-74

These circulars contain information concerning flight crew procedures during taxi

operations.

Additional information on this subject can be obtained from the

local Flight Standards District Office

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•Familiarize yourself with the local traffic pattern. Not all airports use a standard traffic pattern.

•Be especially alert during calm winds. Aircraft may be utilizing an instrument approach to a runway other than the one in use for VFR operations..

•Remember to check Airport Facility Directories, NOTAMS, and airport web sites for site specific information.

Taxi Operations at NON-TOWERED Airports

or at airports without an operating control tower

CAUTION: Some aircraft operating at the airport may not be radio equipped.

Use Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF) - always!

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Use extreme caution when operating from a

runway where the opposite end of the

runway is not visible.

Use CTAF - always!


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Be vigilant if terrain features blocks the

view of the approach end of crossing

runways.


Use CTAF - always!

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•Scan the full length of the runway before crossing

•Maintain a “Sterile Cockpit”

•Use CTAF - always!

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CTAF – Use It!Self Announce Your Position and Intentions

At Towered Airports

(when the tower is not operating)

and

at Non-Towered AirportsCheck Airport/Facility Directory (AFD) for Frequencies

CTAF frequency @ this airport: ___________________

Avoid a Surface Incident

A Fully Developed Surface Incident = An ACCIDENT!

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Maintain Situational Awareness

•Monitor the appropriate frequency for other traffic activity

•Monitor approach control, if possible, to alert you to IFR traffic inbound

•Use exterior lighting to be more conspicuous

Where is the hold position?

Hold Sign Hold Line

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Communications at Non-Towered Airports

•Ensure your radio is tuned to the appropriate CTAF frequency

•Listen before transmitting

•Always state the name of the airport at the beginning and end of the transmission

•Transmit intentions clearly but be brief

•Use your full call sign when broadcasting

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Recommend Review Advisory Circulars

AC 90-42 and AC 90-66These circulars contain information concerning

operations at airports WITHOUT operating Control Towers.

Additional information on this subject can be obtained from the local Flight Standards District Office

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WHETHER YOU FLY INTO HERE…..

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OR HERE…..

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OR HERE…

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LOOK, LISTEN, and EXPECT the unexpected!

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If You Operate From a Towered

or Non-towered Airport

•Plan Your Taxi Route

•Understand Your Taxi Route

•Execute Your Taxi Route!

End of Section 4

Best Practices for Taxi Operations at Towered & Non-Towered Airports

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