Dear Dave:
It is true that we all play a part in runway incursions. Hopefully, we can all play a part in avoiding them.
At non-tower controlled airports, I have observed a common habit of many pilots. I, too, was guilty of this habit until I realized a better way.
Pilots are very good at observing and stopping short of the holding position markings prior to entering the runway, unlike many of our automobile counterparts who like to do a “rolling” stop at stop signs.
Where I have observed a common mistake is that after pilots stop, they will often start rolling toward and past the holding position markings while announcing their plans for takeoff. And because the mic button is pushed, there isn’t any way for landing traffic to interrupt the departing traffic.
Instantly, we have a runway incursion with the traffic on short final needing to abort their landing. If the landing traffic doesn’t abort, then the situation has the potential for serious consequences.
We know it is dangerous to text and drive. When a pilot is talking while taxiing, it’s the same thing. Instead, the pilot should be paying attention to aviating, instead of communicating. If the pilot is looking for the landing traffic instead of communicating, I contend that he would have a much better chance of noticing the traffic on short final. A pilot is more apt to see landing aircraft if he is not in motion.
My recommendation is very simple: 1) Look for landing traffic. 2) Make your departure announcement in a fully stopped position. 3) Listen momentarily for landing traffic to notify you of their intentions. 4) Look for landing traffic, then depart normally.
Peter Alan Aarsvold, CFI
Verona, Wisconsin
