GA pilots should always brief passengers prior to a flight operation. Determining the necessary components for developing or validating an effective passenger briefing begins in the planning stage of a flight. The passenger briefing should contain the pilot’s instruction and procedures for minimizing distractions in the cockpit. It should also include all the pertinent elements prescribed by 14 CFR part 91, § 91.107(a)(1) and (2). Many proprietary checklists include the passenger briefing.

GA pilots should use an effective, aircraft-specific checklist as a matter of routine throughout all phases of aircraft operations. Pilots should complete all aircraft pretaxi checklist items prior to taxi.

Communications and navigation aids should be set up prior to taxi. Setting up radios and navigational aids on the roll are distractions; this is the leading cause of “heads down” in the cockpit. This in turn hinders the pilot’s ability to see and avoid any conflicts while taxiing.

Most pilots have, or should develop, a shorthand method for copying an instrument flight rules (IFR) clearance. The same is true for a taxi clearance. Pilots should develop a set method to copy any type of taxi clearance. Pilots should write down and read back all clearances to ensure that the pilot establishes and maintains effective communications. As with any clearance, a readback for a taxi clearance is mandatory.

A sterile cockpit is another procedural step that pilots should take to reduce the risk of a runway incursion. A sterile cockpit means avoiding all conversations and actions not related to flight during critical phases of aircraft operations such as taxi, takeoff, and landings. A distraction-free cockpit should always include proper taxi procedures and no extraneous conversations or cell phone use.

GA pilots should use proper taxi procedures to reduce the risk of an incident or accident. Maintaining an appropriate taxi speed is a crucial element of an effective taxi procedure.

Pilots can take additional steps to reduce the risk of confusion during ground operations. Taxi confusion most commonly occurs when a pilot is taxiing at an unfamiliar airport. Low-visibility conditions increase the potential for confusion. Pilots have the option to request progressive taxi instructions when taxiing at a controlled airport. Progressive taxi instructions are an excellent mitigation strategy to ensure compliance with taxi clearances. This procedure is especially useful at unfamiliar controlled airports. Receiving progressive taxi instructions is an effective strategy to prevent runway incursions. Pilots should have access to the airport diagram when taxiing. Pilots may use the same diagram that they used during the preflight planning process. Airport diagrams are designed to assist in the movement of ground traffic at locations with complex runway/taxiway configurations. Runway confusion occurs when pilots confuse the identity of a runway. This is another example of an error that an effective set operating procedure can prevent. Setting the heading bug to the assigned runway heading, when a runway assignment is given, provides a method to ensure that the pilot identifies the correct runway. Familiarity with airport markings comes into play here, too. Reading all available signs and verifying them with the runway assignment should be part of a pilot’s set procedure. The critical part is to include these actions into the set procedure and use the procedure on every flight. A comprehensive and set taxi procedure will help to prevent an unwanted event such as a runway incursion.

Ensuring SA is another step that begins with preflight planning. Some pilots only think of SA in terms of flight operations. Reframing SA to cover all phases of flight is one more step in reducing pilot errors. While maintaining SA is important in all circumstances, it is particularly important when operating at an airport without an operating control tower. To achieve SA, pilots should be fully aware of their intended taxi route and be able to follow the planned route correctly. To maintain SA, pilots should always adopt a heads-up attitude when taxiing. This industry best practice is also a step to reduce the risk of an inadvertent runway incursion.

Use of aircraft lights is an additional procedure that GA pilots often overlook. Exterior aircraft lights may be used to make an aircraft operating on the airport surface more conspicuous. Aircraft lights allow others to have some idea of the pilot’s intentions. Proper use of aircraft lights should be a defined element in every pilot’s set procedures. One example of how this might help prevent runway incursion is that airmen assume that an aircraft’s landing light will be on when it is ready to take off. If ATC issues a Line Up and Wait (LUAW) clearance and the pilot mistakenly plans to take off, the tower may notice the landing lights on and call for confirmation so that a mishap is avoided.

Because GA PDs comprise the greatest percentage of all runway incursions, the FAA has increased its outreach efforts through its Flight Standards FAASTeam program. The FAASTeam program provides outreach to GA pilots on topics concerning aviation safety. For example, the FAASTeam addresses local runway safety issues by posting hot spot charts, runway safety bulletins, runway safety event notices, and other materials on its website, https://www.faasafety.gov. Additionally, the FAASTeam also provides web-based training. Pilots and flight instructors should become familiar with all FAASTeam resources to learn more about runway incursions.