Runway Incursion Hot Spots
On May 16, 2007 Jeppesen started to display runway incursion hot spots in magenta on their IFR airport diagrams. The first two that I noticed are Atwater (KMER) and Santa Ana (KSNA). The NACO charts do not depict the hots spots at this time.1
Some airports are identifying hot spots on their web site. Atlanta’s Dekalb Peachtree airport has had a diagram since at least December 2005. Concord Buchannan Field has a diagram on their web site.
A few basic guidelines to remember when operating at tower controlled airports:
- Taxiways have yellow painted markings; runways have white painted markings.
- Taxiways have blue lights; runways have white lights.
- If in doubt, ask! That’s what ground control is there for!
- Use an airport diagram.
Airport diagrams may be downloaded and printed from
FAA Runway Safety or AOPA but they do not yet have the Hot Spots.
You can take an interactive quiz from AOPA and the FAA.
1ICAO Hot Spots
“The FAA developed a draft definition of a ‘Hot Spot‘—A location on an aerodrome movement area with a history or potential risk of collision or runway incursion, where heightened attention by pilots/drivers is necessary. This proposal was shared with ICAO’s Air Navigation Commission to be included in Annex 4 and Procedures for Air Navigation Services—Air Traffic Management (PANS-ATM) Doc 4444. The Air Navigation Commission conducted a final review of the proposal in the last quarter of 2006, for an applicability date of November 2007. Hot Spots will also be added to National Aeronautical Charting Office diagrams at that time.” FAA Runway Safety Report (PDF).