Recommends Pilots Study Layout, Ask For Progressive Taxi

Pilots planning to fly into or out of Dekalb-Peachtree Airport in Atlanta, GA should take a good, long look at the airport's layout before thinking about moving around the ramp there, says the Federal Aviation Administration.

"PDK has a high number of runway incursions, particularly pilot deviations," the agency writes in a recent local air safety alert. "The common factor in most of these is the airmen that are not based at PDK."

The FAA notes the airport has "complex runway configurations with closely aligned taxiways, which can be confusing to unprepared pilots" -- but says a review of all airport facilities and markings determined PDK meets all current safety standards.

However, "in an effort to avoid future runway incursions and potential accidents," the FAA  urges pilots operating at PDK to:

• become totally aware of the airport hot spots;
• know exactly where on the ground you plan to go;
• become very familiar with the airport diagram;
• ask for progressive taxi instructions from Ground control if you have any questions or concerns about finding your way;
• review all safety data associated with the airport including NOTAMs, ATIS, etc.; and
• assess yourself to see if you are up to the task of operating at a high volume, complex and busy airport.

"Please do your part to make operations as safe as possible for everyone operating into and out of PDK," the agency states.

FMI: www.pdkairport.org, www.aopa.org/asf/publications/taxi, www.naco.faa.gov/d-tpp/0711/00469AD.PDF