AVOP Runway Incursion Prevention 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is a runway incursion?
- Any unauthorized or incorrect presence of an aircraft, vehicle, or person on the protected area of a surface designated for landing or takeoff (Correct answer)
- A vehicle crossing a taxiway without clearance from ground control
- An aircraft landing without receiving approach clearance
- A collision between two ground vehicles on the apron
Correct answer: Any unauthorized or incorrect presence of an aircraft, vehicle, or person on the protected area of a surface designated for landing or takeoff
A runway incursion is officially defined as any unauthorized or incorrect presence of an aircraft, vehicle, or person on the protected area designated for takeoff or landing.
Question 2: What do the yellow painted double solid and double dashed lines across a taxiway indicate?
- Runway holding position markings — vehicles must not cross without ATC clearance (Correct answer)
- Taxiway edge markings indicating pavement limits
- A geographic boundary between two airport operational areas
- A vehicle service road crossing zone
Correct answer: Runway holding position markings — vehicles must not cross without ATC clearance
The runway holding position markings (two solid and two dashed yellow lines) indicate the point beyond which vehicles must not proceed without explicit ATC clearance.
Question 3: What does a flashing red light signal from the control tower mean to a vehicle operator on the airside?
- Clear the runway or taxiway — there is danger (Correct answer)
- Stop immediately and wait for further instructions
- Return to your starting position and await clearance
- Proceed to the nearest exit road at reduced speed
Correct answer: Clear the runway or taxiway — there is danger
A flashing red light directed at a vehicle means to clear the runway or taxiway immediately because there is danger.
Question 4: What is the most common contributing factor to runway incursions involving ground vehicles?
- Failure to follow ATC instructions or misunderstanding of clearances (Correct answer)
- Mechanical failure of the vehicle's braking system
- Inadequate airport lighting during night operations
- Incorrect taxi route printed on the airfield map
Correct answer: Failure to follow ATC instructions or misunderstanding of clearances
The most common cause of vehicle-related runway incursions is a failure to correctly follow or understand ATC instructions and clearances.
Question 5: What should a vehicle operator do if an ATC instruction is unclear or not fully understood?
- Request clarification from ATC before proceeding (Correct answer)
- Proceed cautiously based on the best interpretation of the instruction
- Stop in place and wait for another vehicle to follow
- Contact the airside supervisor and proceed when directed
Correct answer: Request clarification from ATC before proceeding
A vehicle operator must always request clarification from ATC before proceeding when any instruction is unclear — guessing is never acceptable near runways.
Question 6: What does a steady red light signal from the ATC tower mean to a ground vehicle operator?
- Stop (Correct answer)
- Proceed with caution
- Clear the area immediately
- Return to the gate
Correct answer: Stop
A steady red light from the control tower is an instruction for the vehicle to stop immediately.
Question 7: At what point must a vehicle operator stop at a runway holding position?
- Before the hold short markings, so the entire vehicle remains on the taxiway side (Correct answer)
- With the front bumper directly over the first solid yellow line
- At a point where the driver can visually confirm no aircraft are on final approach
- Anywhere within 50 feet of the edge of the runway
Correct answer: Before the hold short markings, so the entire vehicle remains on the taxiway side
The entire vehicle must remain on the non-runway side of the holding position markings until ATC clearance is received to cross.
AVOP Runway Incursion Prevention 1
What is a runway incursion?