BECAUSE MUCH OF THE AIRMAN CERTIFICATION STAN- dards addresses risk management, it should be no surprise that the hazards associated with runway incursions would be a topic of discussion during your checkride. While runway incursions can be caused by air traffic controllers, pilots, or even drivers of airport vehicles, most runway incursions are the direct result of pilot deviations. According to FAA statistics, of the 1,757 runway incursions that occurred in 2019 alone, 1,119-nearly 64 percent-were caused by pilot deviations. Even more sobering is the fact that three out of every four of these pilot deviations were caused by general aviation pilots. What makes taxiing an airplane on the airport surface so challenging? There are several factors, any one of which can lead to a deviation. But some combination of pilot inexperience, lack of situational awareness, confusion over ATC instructions, unfamiliarity with the airport, complexity of runway/taxiway layout, lack of planning, and failure to follow standard operating procedures (SOPs) can make taxiing one of the most demanding tasks you'll have to accomplish during your checkride.
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