AC 91-73B Parts 91 and 135 Single Pilot, Flight School Procedures During Taxi Operations
(d) Review the current airport diagram and hot spots and, if in use, a published textual description of standard taxi routes to provide an overall “big picture” of the airport and its potential areas for a runway incursion.
It is critical for safety that a thorough briefing of taxi operations is conducted and understood by the pilot. Briefing of the following items should take place at a time when they are relevant and fresh in the pilot’s memory (e.g., before taxi and prior to initial descent for landing). The following guidance should be used to conduct a briefing for all pilots.
(a) Pilots should brief the timing and execution of aircraft checklists and communications at times that will not interfere with the pilot’s responsibility to be aware of their taxi progress, location, and overall airport taxiing activity. When briefing these tasks, they should also consider the anticipated duration of the taxi operation, the locations of hot spots/complex intersections and runway crossings, and the visibility along the taxi route. If possible, pilots should conduct predeparture checklists only when the aircraft is stopped or while taxiing straight ahead on a taxiway without complex intersections.
(b) Remind all cockpit occupants of the importance of maintaining a sterile cockpit, but encourage the ability to speak up if anyone sees a potential conflict.
(c) Brief all pilots to display the current airport diagram to follow the progress of the taxi operation. (Refer to the NOTE below.)
(d) Brief the expected taxi route to include any hold short lines and runways to cross, hot spots, as well as any other potential conflicts. Once taxi instructions are received, the pretaxi route should be reviewed and monitored. It is essential that any changes to the taxi route be fully understood by pilots.
(e) Address previous experience at the airport and unusual procedures or techniques that are not typically used on an everyday basis, such as different pushback procedures or communication requirements.
(f) Identify critical locations on the taxi route (e.g., hot spots/complex intersections, crossing intervening runways, entering and lining up on the runway for takeoff, and approaching and lining up on the runway for landing) where enhanced vigilance is important to avoid a runway incursion.
(g) Complete as many checklist items as possible (e.g., setting the flaps, trim, loading final weight and balance data, and FMS/global positioning system (GPS) navigation inputs) before initial taxi, once the aircraft is clear of equipment and personnel. In addition, upon landing, no items should be changed or moved until the entire aircraft has crossed the respective runway’s hold short line.
(h) Conduct all after landing checklist items, contact ground control for taxi instructions, read back the instructions, review the airport diagram, and monitor your progress to parking.
(i) During low visibility operations, brief the requirements and special considerations such as the low visibility taxi chart, if published for the airport, and be alert if ATC states to hold short of the ILS critical area line.
(j) The use of cell phones and other electrical devices is discouraged during taxi and prohibited for air carrier operations. It is important to ensure that everyone present in the aircraft turn off their phones and devices during taxi operations to prevent any distractions.
When operating an aircraft that does not have a door between the flight deck and the passenger compartment, the pilot may need to ask passengers to maintain a sterile cockpit and refrain from unnecessary conversation from the time the preflight preparations begin until the time the aircraft is clear of the terminal area and at cruising altitude. The same procedure should be followed on arrival, from the time landing preparations begin until the aircraft is safely stopped at the terminal.
When conducting taxi operations, pilots need to be aware of their proximity to other aircraft and vehicles moving on the airport. This SA is comprised of, but not limited to, knowledge of the aircraft’s precise position. Pilots should use a “continuous loop” process to actively monitor and update their progress and location during taxi. This includes knowing the aircraft’s present location and mentally calculating the next location on the route that will require increased attention (e.g., a turn onto another taxiway, an intersecting runway, or hot spots). SA is enhanced by understanding the ATC clearance issued to the pilots, other aircraft, and vehicles in order to avoid potential conflicts. In addition to the above, the following are specific pilot actions to mitigate the pilot causing a runway incursion.
(1) Have a current airport diagram readily available for reference and check the assigned taxi route against the diagram with the heading indicator or compass, paying special attention to hot spots/complex intersections. While maintaining outside vigilance, the pilot(s) must follow the aircraft’s progress on the airport diagram of ensuring that the pilot is following the instructions received from ATC.
(2) Pilot(s) must monitor the taxi clearance and read back all hold short instructions. Verbalizing hold short instructions is a method to ensure that the pilot(s) have a clear understanding of the intended taxi plan and do not cross any runway hold short lines without ATC clearance.
(3) Know and use all of the visual aids available at the airport, such as the signs, markings, and lighting, as well as ground and/or tower ATC, to follow the taxi route.