In a regulatory move designed to curb runway incursions, after the end of next month, ground controllers will no longer be able to clear you to taxi directly to the takeoff runway if the route involves crossing another runway. Currently, a clearance to the departure runway enabled the pilot to cross any intervening runways without specific clearance for that runway. After June 30, all clearances to cross a runway — active or not — must be specific to that runway. And controllers may not clear an aircraft to cross a second runway until the pilot has successfully crossed the first one. An exception would be when two runways’ centerlines are less than 1,000 feet apart (as in many parallel runway arrangements) and the FAA’s Terminal Services Director of Operations has issued an approval.
FAA Nixes ‘Taxi to’ Policy
Key Takeaways:
- After June 30, ground controllers will no longer issue a single clearance to a takeoff runway if it involves crossing other runways; specific clearance will be required for each runway crossing.
- Controllers must now ensure an aircraft has completely crossed one runway before issuing clearance for a subsequent runway crossing.
- An exception exists for parallel runways less than 1,000 feet apart, subject to specific FAA approval.
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