Runway Safety is one of the FAA's highest priorities and is a shared responsibility between pilots, air traffic controllers and airport vehicle drivers.
What is 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.
Unfortunately, for the past 2 years San Antonio International Airport has been among the Top 10 airports across the country with the highest number of runway incursions. Although causal factors vary greatly, several of the most common across the country are relevant to our San Antonio airport operation, including:
- Complex air traffic taxi instructions, especially during airport construction
- Pilot unfamiliarity with an airport and/or failure to review airport diagram prior to taxi
- Challenging airport geometry, i.e. "Hot-Spots"
- Failure to comply with ATC instructions
- Language barriers
- Pilot/Controller read-back / hear-back errors
The San Antonio Air Traffic Control team is committed to maintaining the highest possible level of service and vigilance at all times in our effort to reduce runway incursions at San Antonio International Airport. As our partners in aviation safety, we encourage all pilots operating in and out of San Antonio to exercise the highest level of cockpit situational awareness while taxiing to or from runways, or while transiting any designated movement area.
Additionally, we request that pilots clarify any air traffic communications or instructions that are unclear or questionable. When in doubt, always ask!
Please view LTA-SAT-15 at the following link:
https://www.faasafety.gov/files/notices/2018/Feb/SAT_LTA_18-015_-_Runway_Safety-Incursion_Awareness_(005).pdf
Contact:
Margaret A. Rendon, KSAT Air Traffic Manager at 210-805-5501
, or email: margaret.rendon@faa.gov
