# Are pilots supposed to look both ways before crossing the runway? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 26, 2025, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-pilots-supposed-to-look-both-ways-before-crossing-the-runway/1014828 "2025-02-26T13:48:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2025, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-pilots-supposed-to-look-both-ways-before-crossing-the-runway/1014828/1 "2025-02-26T13:48:57Z")
Just in case you missed the news, there was a close call at Midway Airport yesterday, with a Southwest Airlines jet aborting a landing with seconds to spare just as an errant business jet crossed the runway. Caught by a planespotter: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/rG_lOc_Zh_w/maxresdefault.jpg "Video shows Southwest go-around at Midway airport in Chicago") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rG_lOc_Zh_w) AIUI, the biz jet did NOT have clearance to cross the runway, and the day was saved by the attentive Southwest cockpit crew. Whew. It seems like looking left and right before crossing the runway would have made this a non-incident. But I’m not a pilot, so what do I know? For a plane that’s about to cross a runway, is it standard procedure to look both ways before doing so? Or, if you believe you’ve got clearance to cross, are you expected to not waste time/neurons on such a check? Is the visual environment too messy for a crossing pilot to reliably identify an aircraft that’s landing or taking off on the runway he’s about to cross? ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2025, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-pilots-supposed-to-look-both-ways-before-crossing-the-runway/1014828/2 "2025-02-26T14:03:23Z")
Yes, they are supposed to look both ways. But since everything I know about piloting a plane comes from watching youtube videos, here is an actual pilot’s thoughts on the incident. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/qDfxzdBQBrA/maxresdefault.jpg "Close Call At Chicago Midway Caught On Camera!") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDfxzdBQBrA) ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2025, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-pilots-supposed-to-look-both-ways-before-crossing-the-runway/1014828/3 "2025-02-26T14:07:02Z")
Another pilot’s point of view: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/m6BLyJ2QiFY/maxresdefault.jpg "Chicago Midway Runway Incursion! 2/25/25") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6BLyJ2QiFY) ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2025, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-pilots-supposed-to-look-both-ways-before-crossing-the-runway/1014828/4 "2025-02-26T14:15:24Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > It seems like looking left and right before crossing the runway would have made this a non-incident. But I’m not a pilot, so what do I know? Left, right, _and up_. Pilots deal with movement in three dimensions, not just two. That said, people do make mistakes from time to time. Which is why everyone has to be alert at an airport. Thank goodness this did not result in disaster. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2025, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-pilots-supposed-to-look-both-ways-before-crossing-the-runway/1014828/5 "2025-02-26T14:24:45Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > Yes, they are supposed to look both ways. For clarity, what does “supposed to” mean? Is it a “good pilots will X”, best-practices kind of thing? Or is it an actual FAA requirement? ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2025, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-pilots-supposed-to-look-both-ways-before-crossing-the-runway/1014828/6 "2025-02-26T14:35:15Z")
@LSLGuy ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2025, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-pilots-supposed-to-look-both-ways-before-crossing-the-runway/1014828/7 "2025-02-26T14:41:02Z")
Commercial pilots are supposed to do everything possible to avoid runway incursions. Tactics include: - Looking both ways and up, and verbally declaring the approach path clear before taxiing onto the runway - Never crossing a runway hold-short line without being 100% certain you were cleared to do so - If there is even the slightest doubt, ask ATC to reconfirm the clearance - We use proper phraseology to avoid any ambiguity - In recent years the signage has improved, and some airports have lighting systems that help prevent taxiing onto an unsafe runway But it obviously still happens from time to time. We have a lot of data gathering strategies in place for when the system fails to prevent an incursion. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2025, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-pilots-supposed-to-look-both-ways-before-crossing-the-runway/1014828/8 "2025-02-26T14:41:37Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > For clarity, what does “supposed to” mean? Is it a “good pilots will X”, best-practices kind of thing? Or is it an actual FAA requiremen This pilot always viewed it as a form of self-preservation, but beyond that - yes it’s a “best practice” thing, a “good pilot” thing. Regrettably, the days when I could quote regulations chapter-and-verse are in the past, and anyhow, this might vary by country as well. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2025, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-pilots-supposed-to-look-both-ways-before-crossing-the-runway/1014828/9 "2025-02-26T14:53:30Z")
[The pilot of the private jet had instructions to hold short of the runway](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6Mp9aUJaTY). In communications he’d flubbed readbacks and been corrected by the tower. (Link to VASAviation channel on Youtube, video includes ground and tower ATC communications spliced in temporal sequence, along with graphics indicating position of the aircraft and highlighting the various taxiways and runways called out. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2025, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-pilots-supposed-to-look-both-ways-before-crossing-the-runway/1014828/10 "2025-02-26T15:04:22Z")
I was looking at the flights for the private jet - unsurprisingly, it hasn’t gone out again. I wonder if FlexJet has a whole stable of available pilots, or how that works. ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2025, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-pilots-supposed-to-look-both-ways-before-crossing-the-runway/1014828/11 "2025-02-26T15:18:39Z")
Yes, FlexJet is a big company with lots of planes and pilots. I have friends who work there, and I hope they weren’t involved in this incident. As I mentioned in the GA thread, that crew has likely been taken off the schedule to submit reports and talk to the company about what happened. The flight itself was probably cancelled and possibly reassigned. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2025, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-pilots-supposed-to-look-both-ways-before-crossing-the-runway/1014828/12 "2025-02-26T15:26:37Z")
> [@Llama\_Llogophile](#): > > The flight itself was probably cancelled and possibly reassigned. Cancelling the flight is a pretty serious disruption for the passenger(s) and cost for the airline. So who makes that decision, and what purpose does it serve? Punitive? BAC check? Mandatory safety stand-down? Somebody in charge said “you two are clearly too broken-headed to fly today, so we’re gonna send two other pilots instead”? ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2025, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-pilots-supposed-to-look-both-ways-before-crossing-the-runway/1014828/13 "2025-02-26T15:39:52Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > Cancelling the flight is a pretty serious disruption for the passenger(s) and cost for the airline. So who makes that decision, and what purpose does it serve? Punitive? BAC check? Mandatory safety stand-down? Somebody in charge said “you two are clearly too broken-headed to fly today, so we’re gonna send two other pilots instead”? I don’t know for a fact that’s what happened, but after that sort of incident I doubt I would continue my work day. Especially since it happened before leaving the ground. Charter companies often have logistical problems that require alternate plans - we call that a “recovery”. They might have another plane nearby that could come take over the trip, or another crew. Least desirable is to “off-fleet” the trip and pass it to another company. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2025, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-pilots-supposed-to-look-both-ways-before-crossing-the-runway/1014828/14 "2025-02-26T15:44:50Z")
The flight that created the incident wasn’t canceled, as best as I can tell. These times look correct. [N560FX Flight Tracking and History - FlightAware](https://www.flightaware.com/live/flight/N560FX) ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2025, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-pilots-supposed-to-look-both-ways-before-crossing-the-runway/1014828/15 "2025-02-27T02:39:52Z")
I haven’t been there in a long time because it’s my second least favorite US airport, but LAX literally has transfer buses drive on the runway and there were signs instructing the bus driver to watch for planes. ---
**Author:** ![Dereknocue67](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6de8d8/32.png) [@Dereknocue67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dereknocue67)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2025, 9:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-pilots-supposed-to-look-both-ways-before-crossing-the-runway/1014828/16 "2025-02-27T09:44:21Z")
Should a pilot look both ways? Sure. However, consider their mindset. While driving a vehicle on a city street, when the light turns from red to green, we’re given clearance to proceed. Do we look both ways before proceeding or step on the gas? Sometimes we look and sometimes we don’t. I believe it depends on the circumstances. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2025, 9:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-pilots-supposed-to-look-both-ways-before-crossing-the-runway/1014828/17 "2025-02-27T09:52:58Z")
South Bend, Indiana airport has a train line running through it. So you have planes, trains, and automobiles all in the same area. There are FIVE railroad crossings inside the airport grounds themselves across “internal drives”. Although I hear there are now plans to move the rail line so there would be less interaction between trains and the other traffic. Still, it was weird to be stopped at a train crossing while in an airplane. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2025, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-pilots-supposed-to-look-both-ways-before-crossing-the-runway/1014828/18 "2025-02-27T15:18:35Z")
On at least some runway crossings, the pilot _can’t_ look back to the approach area. It’s too far back over their shoulder to see. For the more typical case where the taxiway crosses the runway at 90 degrees, the approach area is visible _if_ someone both looks and _sees_. Pointing your face and eyes out the window is not the same as _seeing_; that requires a conscious effort to process the scene & focus at the appropriate distance(s). As to “supposed” … The actual aviation _regulations_ with the force of law address very little of pilot operating practice. There are separate “best practices” books put out by the national regulator that contain a lot of the actual details on how to aviate within the system correctly. All of which have some force less than law, but more than mere suggestion. Sorta like “do it this way unless you have a darn good reason not to”. For a hobbyist pilot that’s all there is in terms of mandatory & semi-mandatory guidance. For an airline or a quasi-airline like NetJets of FlexJets, they have an official pilot procedures manual which can go into painful detail with a script for nearly every activity. Or can be more cursory. In any case, this document is blessed by the regulating agency. At which point it becomes a legally binding mandatory thing with the force of law for the crews of that company. For smaller bizjet operators, be they charter operators or just a corporate flight department with a couple jets & a few pilots, they may or may not have any such procedure manuals. But if they do, they’re a) likely to be pretty cursory, and b) do not carry the force of law. General best practices are for both pilots to stop doing anything else while the airplane is pointed towards a runway. Approaching the runway both pilots say something standardized to indicate they see the thing we’re approaching is a runway, we both intend to cross it, and we both have clearance to do so. Then we turn on a bunch of extra lights, look both ways, and tell the other pilot we have done so and see nothing concerning. _Then_ we enter the runway. That’s how I did it for 30 years at 2 major carriers. I can’t say the policies are just like that every quality operator, but they probably are close. Back to this instant case, with all the flubbery on the radio it is unclear to me that the crew understood they were supposed to hold short. Midway is also rather a lot of confusion stuffed into a fairly small space. Lotta ways to think the runway is the _next_ perpendicular pavement ahead of you when in fact you’re already on it. Oops. It’s also smelling a bit like too much hurry and not enough deliberateness. Which I am told is a bit of a problem in a lot of the bizjet world, even the big operators. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2025, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-pilots-supposed-to-look-both-ways-before-crossing-the-runway/1014828/19 "2025-02-27T15:30:05Z")
> [@Dereknocue67](#): > > While driving a vehicle on a city street, when the light turns from red to green, we’re given clearance to proceed. Do we look both ways before proceeding or step on the gas? Sometimes we look and sometimes we don’t. I, for one, always look if i’m up front. I see way too many red lights get run regularly around here to give anyone the benefit of the doubt. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2025, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-pilots-supposed-to-look-both-ways-before-crossing-the-runway/1014828/20 "2025-02-27T16:26:52Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > I, for one, always look if i’m up front. **I see way too many red lights get run regularly around here** to give anyone the benefit of the doubt. Same. Not just red light runners but idiots driving in idiotic ways. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-pilots-supposed-to-look-both-ways-before-crossing-the-runway/1014828.md?page=2)