Pilot Institute

JUNE 19, 2025

Key Takeaways Runway markings are white and guide takeoff, landing, and alignment. Yellow taxiway and holding markings prevent runway incursions. What Are Runway Markings? Airport markings are a system of symbols, lines, and colors found on runways, taxiways, aprons, and other areas of an airport.

Runway

Aerotime

JUNE 12, 2025

Behind that, a dense broom made up of stiff wire bristles sweeps stubborn ice from the runway surface. Finally, a powerful air blower sucks up loose ice and snow, shooting it away from the runway at speeds of more than 240 miles an hour. Photo: Finavia Sweden’s airport operator Swedavia has taken a similar approach.

Clearance

AV Web

APRIL 8, 2025

I n 1997 the worst runway incursion in aviation history occurred in foggy weather on the island of Tenerife when a KLM 747 began a takeoff with a lost Pan American 747 on the runway. More recently, runway incursions remain in the news. A vehicle deviation occurs if it crosses a runway-hold marking without ATC clearance.

Runway

AV Web

DECEMBER 25, 2024

In a preliminary report released Wednesday, the Japan Transport Safety Board (JTSB) identified crew confusion as the primary cause of the incident, noting that the JCG crew mistakenly believed they had clearance to enter the runway before being struck by Japan Airlines jetliner at Tokyos Haneda Airport.

Air Traffic Control

One Mile at a Time

MARCH 3, 2025

Those are parallel runways, and of course its common to use parallel runways for multiple operations around the same time. With how tight Hong Kongs departure path is into the east, Im puzzled as to how they can issue near simultaneous clearance for jets. Did air traffic controllers not realize earlier on what was happening?

Air Traffic Control

Aerotime

FEBRUARY 6, 2025

These served to further enhance operational efficiency and the overall passenger experience at Zayed International Airport.

Cargo

AV Web

MARCH 11, 2025

press briefing this afternoon, National Transportation Safety Board chair Jennifer Homendy announced an urgent recommendation to the FAA to prohibit helicopter operations on the designated helicopter Route 4 near Washingtons Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA) when Runway 15/33 is in operation. At a Washington, D.C.

Runway

Aerotime

JUNE 23, 2025

They received a block clearance between 30,000ft and 35,000ft. The crew requested an immediate descent to a block altitude of between 33,000ft and 36,000ft, a block of airspace in which they could operate safely at any altitude in the assigned block.

Pitot Tube

Simple Flying

JANUARY 4, 2025

Having been given clearance to land on runway 34R, the Airbus A350-900 touched down and almost immediately hit another aircraft, a stationary Dash-8-300 of the Japan Coast Guard.

Runway

AV Web

MARCH 19, 2025

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has posted its Preliminary Report on the runway incursion and near-collision involving a Flexjet Challenger 350 and a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-800 at Chicago Midway Airport (KMDW). Further confusing the issue, what used to be Runway 31R is now Taxiway H, so there is no longer a Runway 31R.

Runway

Simple Flying

JULY 22, 2025

Reports suggest that, due to conflicting clearances, the former was cleared to land on the same runway as the latter was departing from, resulting in a loss of separation between the two narrowbody twinjet aircraft.

Runway

Flight Training Central

MAY 5, 2025

Reading back instructions incorrectly (or not at all) The mistake: Responding with just roger to a taxi or takeoff clearanceor reading back the wrong runway. The fix: Always read back runway assignments, hold short instructions, and clearances verbatim.

Air Traffic Control

One Mile at a Time

JANUARY 6, 2025

In this particular incident, a NetJets aircraft with the callsign Execjet 636 was on approach to runway 24 at Teterboro Airport (TEB), but the pilots couldnt seem to follow the (very basic) instructions. Air traffic controller: I thought we agreed that you were gonna cross WHEEZY at two, so this is the second clearance that youre not abiding.

Air Traffic Control

Plane and Pilot

MAY 26, 2025

We emphasize attention to detail, not trusting our memory when it comes to taxi clearances, verifying runways prior to crossing or holding short, and ensuring that both pilots are heads-up for taxi, or that they vocalize any time a pilot goes heads-down. Halfway to the runway, the windsock hangs a U-turn.

Runway

One Mile at a Time

MARCH 14, 2025

This incident happened in the early morning hours of March 2, 2025, and involves the pilots of an All Nippon Airways Boeing 777, who were trying to get taxi clearance. All Nippon Airways pilot: Oh, we request runway 31L, All Nippon 159 heavy. As soon as this aircraft lands, Ill get you moving. Air traffic controller: Youre on request.

Air Traffic Control

AV Web

MARCH 21, 2025

Cancel takeoff clearance. They had been cleared to take off on Runway 17R which is parallel to Taxiway H. The crew mistook the surface for the nearby runway, an airline statement said. Stop Southwest 3278, stop! CNN quoted the controller as saying. Youre on H taxiway Southwest 3278.

Clearance

Plane and Pilot

MARCH 25, 2025

Although I havent spent much time around GB1s (except for drooling over them while they are on display and flying at airshows) I am always taken aback by how much larger the airplane appears to be in personparticularly, the tall, sweeping rudder that curves down to a sharp point with just enough ground clearance. Free and clear.

Knot

AV Web

MAY 6, 2025

Most approaches, even non-GPS approaches, have a waypoint placed exactly at the threshold of the runway. In addition to required visibility, the runway environment must be distinctly visible and identifiable. I think I have the runway lights in sight, is not good enough. And what exactly is the runway environment anyway?

Runway

One Mile at a Time

JUNE 4, 2025

The pilots seemingly made great time, and the plane began its approach to runway 8R in Munich. The aircraft had already dropped its gear and was on final approach, when the decision was made for the plane not to be given clearance to land. What do you make of this Condor diversion?

Approach

One Mile at a Time

MARCH 21, 2025

A Southwest Airlines jet attempted to take off from a taxiway yesterday, somehow mistaking it for a runway in broad daylight. At Orlando Airport, Southwest departs from airside 2, and the plane was supposed to take off from runway 17R, a very short distance away. The taxiway runs parallel to the runway.

Air Traffic Control

Flying Magazine

JULY 3, 2025

I also advised ATC of our impending total engine failure and asked for clearance to the nearest airfield. Page Airfield is an uncontrolled airport at 4,300 feet elevation, and the runway is just under 6,000 feet long. Seeing my position visually, I was now totally confident I could make the runway.

Knot

Fear of Landing

APRIL 18, 2025

Last week I wrote about the Fokker F27 mk 500 Friendship that came off the runway at take-off at Bournemouth Airport. They started the engine at the stand and taxied to the taxiway leading to the runway for their flight to Coventry, which was uneventful. The marshaller signalled back clearance to start.

Weight-Shift-Control

Plane and Pilot

NOVEMBER 9, 2024

These organized folks do not find out the runway is closed when they see the large lighted X’s on short final. ATC clearance readbacks are one example. The best folks I have flown with know this and are prepared. They read the NOTAMs “before” they take off into the wild blue yonder.

Pilot

Air Facts

MAY 5, 2025

I filed my IFR flight plan, received a clearance and took off into the gray winter sky. A few minutes later, we heard the center controller clear a Trans Missouri Airlines commuter plane for the VOR Runway 30 approach to Jefferson City. In eight minutes, we would be a pile of bent aluminum in some field short of the runway.

VOR

Plane and Pilot

FEBRUARY 28, 2025

These tools help the pilots deal with this busy section of the flight replete with numerous checklists, changing clearances, and traffic. We have some of the same checklists, clearances, and traffic, and we have one less pilot to get them all done. First, if lost among the taxiways and runways, fess up and ask for a progressive taxi.

Descent

Flying Magazine

JUNE 23, 2025

Turns out there was a Cessna 172’s tail sticking out of some heavy brush toward the end of the runway. When it does, it’s usually because someone forgot to put down their landing gear and is blocking the runway. 1 in the gaggle, keep it rolling—ATC likely will want you to exit the runway at the end. If you’re No.

Runway

iPad Pilot News

MARCH 11, 2025

These alerts include runway proximity, traffic, cabin altitude, destination weather, terrain, airspace and TFRs, carbon monoxide and more. RUNWAY ALERTS Runways – Alerts when nearing or entering a runway. An audible alert plays the message Traffic on Runway and specifies the runway number and airport.

AGL

Northstar VFR

JULY 6, 2025

When we got to NOTAMs , something jumped out: a temporary closure of Runway 12/30 at our destination for maintenance. It was the main—and practically only—runway in usable condition for a 172. Imagine planning to land at a rural airport, only to find out via NOTAM that the runway lights are out of service at night.

NOTAMs

Pilot Institute

JUNE 12, 2025

If the runway is contaminated with water, ice, or oil, the wheel may simply skid over the surface instead of gripping it. The extra stopping power is useful for landing on short runways and in adverse conditions. Even if you could package it, the jetblast would hit the wings, flaps, and runway straight on. Barts Island.

Thrust

AV Web

JULY 16, 2025

While about eight miles from the destination airport, the pilot accepted a clearance to intercept the final approach course for Runway 28R. On Sunday afternoon, Cessna T240 Corvalis TTx (N636CS) departed from Ramona Airport (KRNM) in California for a short flight to Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport (KMYF) in San Diego.

Pilot

Air Facts

MAY 7, 2025

The snow plow operators were happy to be able to go about their clearing operations without having to hold short or vacate runways to wait for arrivals or departures. It was clear that he was not able to maneuver to circle to the longest runway so a straight in on the east/west runway was his only option.

Weight-Shift-Control

Universal Weather

FEBRUARY 3, 2025

While this location is convenient in terms of access to the city, SBRJ is not an AOE, has limited GA parking, and only a 4341-foot runway. Clearance procedure involves arrival security inspection of hand luggage and clearing passport control followed by a screening of checked baggage.

Clearance

Air Facts

APRIL 28, 2025

We made a nice two ship formation landing on runway 8L and were directed to taxi to Deltas (TOC) ramp which is located mid-field. Still, crossing the adjacent parallel runway 8R, with a huge Airbus holding for us made me feel a tad uncomfortable, now I know how a bug must feel when it sees a windshield coming at him!

Clearance

Air Facts

JULY 28, 2025

Many flight clearances out of Rhode Island head through northern Connecticut and Southern Massachusetts to avoid busy airapce. The Clearance Conflict I arrived at the airport in rain, with 600–1000 foot overcast. Preflight complete, I called for my clearance. Takeoff on runway 05, left turn northwest, initial climb to 2,000’.

Clearance

Photographic Logbook

MAY 25, 2025

The most useless things in aviation are altitude above you, runway behind you, and fuel left on the ground." As I dutifully toed the line that was my instrument clearance, my benefactor at Rochester Approach looked out for me until the handoff to Buffalo Approach roughly halfway between the two cities. Aviate, navigate, communicate."

OAT

Pilot Institute

JUNE 9, 2025

Pilots use holds for traffic delays, weather, emergencies, planning, or runway changes. Runway Changes (or Closure) Where possible, airplanes normally like to land in the wind. If the wind changes significantly, the airport authority may decide to change the runway. Yep, those runway numbers do mean something.

Airplanes

Plane and Pilot

OCTOBER 29, 2024

I filed IFR , mostly so that I could get the altitude I wanted without having to worry about cloud clearances, and so if some little squirt cumulus popped up, I could blast through it or just nick the side of it. Kentland has a 4,000-foot runway, east/west, with a crosswind straight out of the north. What the…?

Weather