Definition
An FAA safety initiative aimed at reducing runway incursions — events where an aircraft, vehicle, or person is incorrectly present on a runway protected area. The program publishes airport-specific information in the Chart Supplement, including a Hot Spot list highlighting locations on a given airport where pilots have historically been confused or where incursions have occurred.
Plain English
An FAA effort to reduce mistakes that put aircraft or vehicles on a runway when they shouldn't be there. As part of it, the FAA flags trouble spots at specific airports so pilots know to be extra careful in those places.
Context Anchor
Seen in Chart Supplements and airport information, especially when reviewing an airport before taxiing, landing, departing, or operating on the ground.
Derivation
An 'incursion' comes from the Latin incursio, meaning 'a running into' or 'an attack.' In aviation it carries the softer sense of something or someone entering a space they shouldn't — in this case, a protected runway area.
Why Pilots Care
Runway incursions remain a leading cause of ground collisions; familiarity with the program reinforces correct taxi and hold-short procedures.
Intuition Check
A runway incursion does not have to mean a collision happened. It means someone or something was in the protected runway area incorrectly, creating a safety risk.
Example Sentence 1
During preflight, she checked the Chart Supplement and noted two Hot Spots from the Runway Incursion Program at her destination, both at intersections near the approach end of Runway 27.
Example Sentence 2
Completion of Runway Incursion Program training helps crews avoid the most common taxi errors at uncontrolled fields.