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Wrong Place, Wrong Time

Runway incursions happen even at smaller airports. Losing situational awareness to distractions is a typical reason.

Rather than helping them get over a hurdle to “yes,” pilots often feel the approach to FAA medical certification appears to be to throw new hurdles in the path of applicants. Philippe de Kemmeter
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • Runway and surface incursions are a persistent and serious aviation safety threat, often occurring at non-towered airports or in areas with complex layouts ("Hot Spots").
  • Incidents frequently stem from pilot distraction, loss of situational awareness (even among experienced pilots), and the inadvertent entry of uninformed non-aviation personnel (e.g., delivery drivers, pedestrians) into movement areas.
  • Despite regulatory efforts and modern digital tools providing comprehensive pre-flight information, preventing incursions remains challenging, requiring continuous vigilance and improved awareness for all airport users.
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It was a pretty summer Saturday, early enough in the day so the air was cool and the density altitude was reasonable. The mission: the flying club’s annual Poker Run. If you haven’t participated in one—you should!—the rules are simple. You fly to five local airports, picked to make for a little over an hour’s flying time.

At each, you get a sealed envelope with a playing card. Sometimes these are hard to find, like “on the west wall of the self-service shack.” When you have five cards, you head for home, where there’s barbecue and prizes and lots of fun with people whose interests you share.

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