Not only was Joe careless, he could have been seriously injured or killed by an aircraft. He also put pilot, crew and passengers of any nearby operating aircraft in danger. A runway incursion is any occurrence at an airport involving an aircraft, vehicle, person or object on the ground that creates a collision hazard or results in a loss of separation with an aircraft taking off, or intending to land. FAA records show that since 1993, runway incursions increased 73 percent. One of the biggest problems is pilots or vehicle operators entering the active runway without permission from the control tower.
Pedestrians are also a problem.
If you re going to be in an area where aircraft operate, you need to contact the air traffic control tower before proceeding. Vehicles operating on the airport should display an orange and white checkered flag or flashing amber light to alert pilots, Crane said. The lights, she said, are better because they can be seen day and night. For more information on runway incursions, contact your local airport manager. He or she has FAA publications and more.