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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 pose a significant aviation safety risk, frequently caused by pilot distractions, loss of situational awareness, and challenging airport geometries or "Hot Spots."
  • The problem extends beyond pilot error, with surface incidents often involving non-pilots like delivery drivers or automated vehicles unfamiliar with airport movement area rules.
  • Despite FAA prevention efforts and advancements in digital navigation tools to improve information access, there are no easy solutions, underscoring the continuous need for extreme vigilance from 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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