When I'm in a complex "new to me" tower
controlled airport and not being fortunate enough to have a high dollar Garmin
496 or MX20 type MFD in my panel with taxi diagrams, I'm not bashful about
asking Ground Control for progressive taxi instructions. It's takes just a few
moments to make this request and I've never ever gotton so much as a sigh from
any of the ground controllers at some busy places.
Here's the official FAA definition of a
"runway incursion":
"Any occurrence at an aerodrome involving
the incorrect presence of an aircraft, vehicle or person on the protected area
of a surface designated for the landing and take off of aircraft."
Here are some of the airports I've visited
where I think it was a great move to get progressives:
KIAH,
KTPA,
KPIE,
KSRQ,
KPBI,
KALB,
KSYR,
KROC
Check out this very scary "near-miss" runway
incursion by two commercial jet aircraft. Very good move by the pilot to decline
their takeoff clearance.
Here's another near-miss graphic depiction of
a runway incursion event. Click
HERE
And yet another near-miss graphic depiction at
KCLT, Charlotte, NC, by the FAA. Click
HERE
Download the FAA's Runway Safety Report for
2008 HERE
At night, let's be especially vigilant and
take a few extra seconds in the FBO to brief the Airport Diagram or while you're
warming your engine(s) on the ramp.