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Airport diagrams are pictorial maps that help pilots navigate taxiways and runways at a given airport. They are published by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and follow a common format. Airport diagrams contain important information such as runway dimensions, elevations, and gradients, and potential collision risk areas known as hot spots. Hot spots are labelled on airport diagrams as HS1, HS2, and so on, and are defined by the FAA as a location on an airport movement area with a history of potential risk of collision or runway incursion, where heightened attention by pilots is necessary. These diagrams play a crucial role in ensuring safe and efficient ground operations at airports, especially those with complex runway and taxiway configurations.
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What You'll Learn
Hot spots are locations with a history of collisions or runway incursions
Airport diagrams are pictorial maps that help pilots navigate the taxiways and runways of an airport. They are published by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and follow a standard format. An airport diagram will contain information such as runway dimensions, elevations, and gradients.
Hot spots, in the context of airport diagrams, refer to locations on an airport's movement area with a history or potential risk of collision or runway incursion. These are areas where pilots and drivers must exercise heightened caution. The concept of hot spots was introduced to address the challenges of unfamiliar airfield operations and to mitigate the risks associated with incorrect aircraft, vehicle, or person presence on runways and taxiways.
Runway incursions pose a significant safety concern in aviation, and hot spots serve as a countermeasure to identify and mitigate these risks. The International Civil Aviation Organization's Procedures for Air Navigation Services-Air Traffic Management (ICAO PANS-ATM) defines a runway incursion as:
> "Any occurrence at an aerodrome involving the incorrect presence of an aircraft, vehicle, or person on the protected area of a surface designated for the landing and takeoff of aircraft."
Hot spots are identified at complex or confusing taxiway-taxiway or taxiway-runway intersections, where the potential for errors in navigation is higher. These locations are charted on airport diagrams and described in the airport diagrams section of the Chart Supplement. By being aware of hot spots, pilots, air traffic controllers, and airfield drivers can better navigate the airport surface and prevent incidents.
The FAA provides resources for pilots, controllers, and drivers regarding runway safety, including online courses, videos, and publications. Hot spots remain on airport diagrams until the increased risk has been reduced or eliminated.
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Pilots must be aware of hot spots and taxiways
Taxiways are the movement areas on airport diagrams, where aircraft move between parking spots and runways. These areas are labelled with a combination of letters and numbers. Pilots need to follow specific taxi instructions and adhere to holding position markings on taxiways to avoid interfering with runway operations. Runway holding position markings indicate where aircraft must stop if clearance to proceed onto a runway has not been granted. These markings are critical for safety, and pilots must not cross them without authorisation.
When approaching runways with an operating control tower, pilots typically receive instructions from air traffic control (ATC) and must adhere to holding positions to avoid interfering with runway operations. In some cases, pilots may receive authorisation to disregard holding position markings and use the entire landing length of the runway. However, unconditional phrases such as "proceed on all taxiways" are not approved for use.
At airports without operating control towers, pilots must ensure adequate separation from other aircraft, vehicles, and pedestrians before crossing holding position markings. Progressive instructions, including step-by-step directions, may be provided to pilots to navigate complex taxi routes and ensure safe ground movement.
By utilising airport diagrams and staying vigilant about hot spots and taxiway procedures, pilots can effectively navigate airport grounds, mitigate risks, and ensure safe operations for themselves and others.
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Hot spots are marked in red or brown
Airport diagrams are pictorial maps that help pilots navigate the airport environment, especially when it comes to complex runway and taxiway configurations. They are published by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and are designed to help pilots maintain situational awareness in the terminal area. These diagrams are also used to update computer-based navigation systems (INS) on aircraft.
Hot spots, or areas of higher risk, are marked on airport diagrams. These are locations with a history of potential collision or runway incursion risks, requiring pilots to exercise extra vigilance. Hot spots are designated with \"HS\" for \"hot spot\", followed by a number. On Jeppesen Charts, hot spots are marked in red, while on FAA Charts, they are marked in brown. For example, at Prescott Regional Airport, there are two hot spots, marked as HS 1 and HS 2. HS 1 is located on Runway 12/30, where the run-up area at taxiway F1 is not visible from the tower, requiring pilots to watch out for unexpected aircraft or vehicles. HS 2 is located on Runway 3R/21L, an area with frequent runway crossings.
Pilots should always refer to the latest airport diagrams to identify hot spots and other critical information, such as runway dimensions, elevations, and gradients. This helps them navigate safely, especially when taxiing, as it can be easy to accidentally enter a runway without proper attention to markings and diagrams. By using these diagrams, pilots can expect which runway to use and the route to take, improving situational awareness and operational safety.
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Hot spots are listed in the Chart Supplement U.S
Airport diagrams are pictorial maps that help pilots navigate the taxiways and runways of an airport. They are published by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and follow a standard format. An airport diagram will contain information such as runway dimensions, elevations, and gradients, as well as the true/magnetic north orientation, date, and annual rate of change.
An "Airport Surface Hot Spot" is a location on an airport's movement area with a history or potential risk of collision or runway incursion. These areas require heightened attention from pilots and drivers. Hot spots are typically complex or confusing intersections between taxiways and runways, which have a significant risk of runway incursions.
Hot spots are charted on airport diagrams and described in the airport diagrams section of the Chart Supplement. The Chart Supplement U.S., published by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration, National Aeronautical Charting Office, contains a breakdown list of all airport hot spots and their reasons for being notable. It is published every 56 days and is divided into seven volumes, covering the U.S., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The Chart Supplement U.S. contains data on public-use airports, military airports, and selected private-use airports. It also includes information on associated terminal control facilities, air route traffic control centers, and radio aids to navigation within the conterminous United States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. Civil airports and joint civil/military airports that are open to the public are listed alphabetically by state, associated city, and airport name, and cross-referenced by airport name.
Prior to taxiing at an airport, pilots should familiarise themselves with the locations of any hot spots. If the taxi route passes through a hot spot, pilots should review the relevant region's Chart Supplement to understand the factors that make that area a hot spot. When in a hot spot, pilots must exercise extreme caution to avoid inadvertently entering a runway or taxiway.
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Hot spots are found at busy, controlled airports
Airport diagrams are pictorial maps of airport environments, designed to help pilots navigate the taxiways and runways. They are published by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and follow a common format. An airport diagram will contain information such as runway dimensions, elevations, and gradients, as well as the true/magnetic north orientation, date, and annual rate of change.
An "Airport Surface Hot Spot" is a specific element of an airport diagram, referring to a location with a history or potential risk of collision or runway incursion. These hot spots demand heightened attention from pilots and vehicle operators. Hot spots are found at busy, controlled airports with complex runway and taxiway configurations, where the risk of collision is higher. Airports adjacent to victor airways, for instance, have a greater potential for mid-air hotspots due to the concentration of traffic.
Hot spots are charted on airport diagrams until the increased risk has been reduced or eliminated. They are also included in the Chart Supplement, which provides descriptions of each hot spot. Pilots can use these diagrams and supplements to familiarize themselves with the layout of busy airports, reducing the risk of confusion and improving situational awareness for safer operations.
When approaching busy, controlled airports, pilots must be well-prepared. They should be aware of any special arrival or departure procedures, and it is recommended to fly with someone who has previously been to the airport. Knowing which runway to use beforehand can also reduce confusion, as controllers at busy airports often expect a swift transition from the runway to the ramp with minimal assistance.
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Frequently asked questions
Airport diagrams are pictorial maps of airport environments that help gain and maintain situational awareness in the terminal area. They are published by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and follow a common format.
Airport diagrams include runway dimensions, elevations, gradients, true/magnetic north orientation, date, annual rate of change, and a geographical coordinate grid. They also include frequencies relevant to the airport, runway distance information, and taxiways.
A hot spot is a location on an airport movement area with a history of potential risk of collision or runway incursion. Hot spots are marked in red on Jeppesen Charts and brown on FAA Charts. They are designated with "HS" for "hot spot", followed by a number.
HS1 is a designation for a "hot spot" on an airport diagram, indicating a location with a history of potential risk of collision or runway incursion. It is a location where heightened attention by pilots and drivers is necessary.
