C Gattman wrote:

We can debate whether they should be called "runway incursions" or
just "incursions" all day long, but, where the rubber meets the
taxiway, which is at present about 75 feet behind where I'm sitting,
if you enter the taxiway without clearance, the tower, which is about
100 yards to the west of me right now, will report it as a runway
incursion and, according to them, the FAA will generally rule that it
was caused by pilot deviation.

That's quite simply how it works, right now, at the Class D towered
airport where I am presently writing this, according to the chief
pilot, the CFIs, CFIIs and ATPs who are here right now, the FSDO and
the FAA-licensed controller of the FAA control tower with whom we just
spoke.


Something in the water out there?

I'll contact FSDO dude and tower dudes tomorrow, I contacted Gene Benson
today. Here is my message to him followed by his reply:


Dear Mr. Benson,

Your web page on Runway Incursions has been brought to my attention. I
noted the following:

"By the way, a runway incursion is simply driving an airplane to somewhere
it is not supposed to be on a particular airport at that particular time.
Runway incursions are not limited to controlled airports or to runways. If
reported, an airplane taxiing onto a runway at an uncontrolled airport while
another airplane is on final approach would be considered to be a runway
incursion. Also, an airplane at a controlled airport that entered a taxiway
onto which it had not been cleared would also be considered a runway
incursion."

That's not correct, runway incursions pretty much ARE limited to runways.
Almost a year ago the definition of Runway Incursion in FAA Order 7050.1 was
amended to be consistent with the ICAO definition:

"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."

The previous definition, which had been in use since 1987, was:

"Any occurrence at an airport involving an aircraft, vehicle, person, or
object on the ground that creates a collision hazard or results in a loss of
separation with an aircraft taking off, intending to take off, landing, or
intending to land."


Unauthorized operation on a taxiway at a towered airport would be a Pilot
Deviation, Vehicle Deviation, or a Pedestrian Deviation, depending on the
culprit.

Sincerely,

Steven P McNicoll
GRB ATCT


http://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/m.../ND/7050.1.pdf

http://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/m...N%207050.2.pdf



His reply:



Thanks for the correct info. My notes show that I got that information from
a
JFK controller who spoke at a designated examiner meeting in 2004. Anyway,
the
article was rather dated so I took it down.

Regards,
Gene