Throughout 2017, the Chino Airport (CNO) Runway Incursion (RI) rate has steadily increased. At the end of October, CNO ranked #1 in total Runway Incursions among all FAA and Federal Contract Towered airports nationwide.
A serious event occurred when an aircraft did not hold short of Runway 26R at Taxiway Papa, as instructed, causing an aircraft on short final to go-around and overfly the errant aircraft within 100 feet.
Pilots at CNO continue to cross runway hold lines or enter runways without tower clearance, even after correctly reading back runway hold short instructions. The most frequently incurred locations are:
- Published Hot Spot 2: Runway 3-21 at Taxiway Lima after exiting Runway 26L.
- Published Hot Spot 4: Runway 8L-26R after properly crossing Runway 3-21 from Taxiway Lima.
- Approach end of Runway 26R at Taxiway Papa after exiting the run-up area for departure.
CNO also experiences many Wrong Surface Landings (WSL), i.e. landing on other than the cleared runway or on a taxiway. Pilots at CNO have landed on the wrong runway primarily when using Runways 26L and 26R:
- Multiple aircraft landed Runway 26R when cleared to land on Runway 26L.
- Multiple aircraft landed Runway 26L when cleared to land on Runway 26R.
- Aircraft lined up on final for Taxiway Alfa instead of Runway 26R.
Whether your home base is CNO or are just flying through, take precautions to help turn CNO’s runway incursion trend around.
On the ground. Use the three practices below to ensure you never have a runway incursion:
- Actively (purposefully) scan for runway hold short lines. Visually identify them. Do not wait for them to “sneak up” on you.
- DO NOT cross runway hold short lines unless certain you have received clearance to enter or cross that runway and you are at the correct location. NEVER ASSUME.
- If ever in doubt, ensure you are clear of all runways, then STOP and ASK for assistance.
Increase your situational awareness even more with these specific best practices:
- Always use a current airport diagram, no matter how familiar you think you are.
- During CNO taxi-out/departure planning, review Hot Spots 1 and 3.
- During CNO arrival/landing planning, review Hot Spots 2 and 4.
- During taxi, stay “heads-up.” Brief passengers to maintain “sterile cockpit.”
- Minimize and manage distractions. Do engine run-up only when stopped.
- After landing Runway 26L and fully clearing the runway at Taxiway Lima, defer the After-Landing Checklist, if possible, until properly clear of Runway 26R (Hot Spots 2 & 4).
- Request progressive (step by step) taxi instructions ANY TIME you need additional navigation assistance on the ground.
To avoid landing on the wrong runway or a taxiway at CNO:
- Be aware of a primary cause of wrong surface landings: “Expectation Bias.”
- If you’re accustomed to CNO’s more frequent parallel Runway 26 operations: and find yourself using Runways 8L or 8R, remember: the opposite end of 26L is 8R; the opposite end of 26R is 8L. Even after reading back the correct runway assignment, pilots have been known to go for the “left” or the “right” runway because that’s what they are used to seeing when operating in the other (more familiar) direction,
- When on left downwind for Runway 26R be aware that you’ll be extending your base leg through the 26L final. Don’t automatically line up for the closest runway.
- Be aware of runway changes. If a runway assignment has been given then changed, whether or not a landing clearance has been issued, controllers will tell you they are changing your assigned runway (Cessna 12345, change to Runway 26L…”). Pilots have incorrectly landed on the runway they were originally assigned, even after correctly reading back the new runway assignment.
- At CNO, if you’re cleared for Runway 26R, don’t let the prominence of Runway 26L lure you onto the wrong surface.
- Pilots have landed on wrong runways or even taxiways due to distractions in the cockpit or preoccupation with an in-flight situation. If you have a problem or concern with your flight status, tell the controller (it doesn’t have to be an emergency). Controllers can’t help if they don’t know… And, they want to help.
- Read back landing runway assignment: visually identify your landing runway. Confirm that it’s a runway (and not a taxiway), and, that it’s the correct runway.
- Use visual cues, including: verify right versus left runways, runway magnetic orientation, and, known landmarks versus the location of the airport or runway.
- Employ an active technique to verify you are lined up with the correct runway, and, use on every flight (write it down, say it out loud, verify your landing clearance on base leg, etc.).
- If ever uncertain of your landing runway assignment, ASK for confirmation
Please review this short CNO Airport runway safety video now:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cO2r5ko7XIo
Remember to Focus: STOP. LOOK. LISTEN. Lives are at Stake!***
For additional information contact:
joe.santoro@faa.gov
Western-Pacific Region Runway Safety Program Manager,
Western Service Area, Federal Aviation Administration
