AOPA Air Safety Institute Releases New Course To Help Pilots Avoid Runway Incursions

Runway and taxiway incursions by general aviation aircraft continue to be a top priority safety issue with the FAA. It’s easy to think that, “It will never happen to me,” but the fact is, it can happen and it does happen.

The Air Safety Institute prepares numerous training courses, and this new and revised course regarding runway incursion is perfect for initial and refresher training.

The 45-minute ‘Runway Safety’ course takes participants through a series of airport trouble spots, including confusing signs, complex taxiway and runway layouts and unclear communications, all of which could lead to runway incursions or aircraft collisions on the ground.

The updated course also focuses on coping with real world cockpit distractions, such as the increased attention pilots often give to advanced avionics, GPS systems and tablet computers while taxiing.

“Many pilots feel that taxiing their aircraft is an almost benign segment of their flight,” said George Perry, senior vice president of ASI. “But experience shows that such complacency can get them into a lot of trouble very quickly, endangering themselves and others. This new course gives pilots the tools they need to stay safe at any airport.”

Runway Safety is available to all pilots – not just AOPA members – and includes several actual incursion case studies that demonstrate how conflicts can occur during seemingly routine flights. This ASI course also includes instruction and tips from several air safety experts, as well as quizzes on airport situational awareness.

Since a first version debuted 14 years ago, ASI’s Runway Safety course has helped thousands of pilots cope with the complexities of airport surface operations. This new course is optimized for use on mobile devices, so users can take it with them.

Since 1950, AOPA’s Air Safety Institute has served all pilots—not just AOPA members—by providing free safety education programs, analyzing safety data and conducting safety research. ASI offers award-winning online courses, nearly 200 live seminars annually throughout the U.S., flight instructor refresher courses, webinars, accident case studies and other materials to help pilots be safer and better informed.

You must create an account with the ASI to take any of their courses, but you do not have an AOPA member. The link below will take you to the account registration site that allows you to select the various ASI safety courses.

(Images from file)

FMI: ASI account registration