Definition
Locations on an airport movement area with a history or potential risk of collision or runway incursion, where heightened attention by pilots and controllers is necessary. Hot spots are depicted on FAA airport diagrams as circled or outlined areas labeled HS 1, HS 2, and so on, with corresponding descriptions published in the Chart Supplement.
Plain English
Marked spots on an airport diagram where pilots have gotten confused or nearly collided in the past. They flag places where you need to pay extra attention while taxiing.
Context Anchor
Seen on FAA airport sketches and airport diagrams, usually marked with a labeled area such as HS 1 or HS 2.
Derivation
From the everyday phrase 'hot spot,' meaning a place of trouble or high activity. The FAA adopted the term to flag specific airport locations where the risk is concentrated.
Why Pilots Care
Recognizing hot spots reduces the chance of runway incursions and improves situational awareness during ground operations.
Intuition Check
Do not read “hot spot” as a place with high temperature. In airport diagrams, it means a place where surface movement mistakes are more likely.
Example Sentence 1
During taxi planning, the captain pointed out HS 2 on the airport diagram and briefed the crew to verify the hold-short line before crossing.
Example Sentence 2
Before starting the engine the pilot reviewed the hot spots shown on the diagram and briefed the taxi route accordingly.