Definition
An action by a pilot that results in the violation of a Federal Aviation Regulation or a North American Aerospace Defense Command Air Defense Identification Zone tolerance. Common examples include crossing a runway holding position marking without clearance, deviating from an assigned altitude or heading, or entering controlled or restricted airspace without authorization.
Plain English
A pilot deviation is when a pilot does something that breaks an FAA rule or an air traffic control instruction. It can be as simple as taxiing past a hold line without permission, or as serious as flying into airspace you weren't cleared into.
Context Anchor
Seen in runway safety discussions, taxi instructions, and situations involving runway holding position signs or hold-short instructions.
Derivation
Deviation comes from the Latin 'deviare,' meaning 'to turn off the way' (de- 'off' + via 'road'). In aviation, it carries that same idea: the pilot has departed from the path, instruction, or rule they were supposed to follow.
Why Pilots Care
Pilot deviations can lead to safety risks, FAA enforcement actions, or certificate suspensions.
Intuition Check
Do not read “deviation” here as just a small or harmless difference. In this FAA context, it means the pilot did not follow a required rule, instruction, or clearance.
Example Sentence 1
The tower reported a pilot deviation after the aircraft crossed the runway holding position marking without a clearance.
Example Sentence 2
Repeated pilot deviations can result in enforcement action by the FAA.