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6 Answers

Turn off on inactive runway

Asked by: 4487 views General Aviation

Hopefully an easy question:

Today I landed on a runway with a taxiway parallel to it. Turnoffs to access the taxiway are on each end of the runway. Half way down the runway is an intersecting runway, that also intersects the parallel taxiway. The airport doesn't have a control tower.

Is it appropriate to turn from the active runway onto the crosswind runway to get to the taxiway, or should I continue taxiing all the way to the end of the active runway to use the taxiway turnoff there?

 

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6 Answers



  1. southfloridacfi on May 05, 2014

    Short answer, Yes. But with CAUTION.

    In an uncontrolled envrionment, make sure you make a radio call alerting other traffic of your intentions BEFORE you turn onto the runway and make sure you look both ways, up and down, before entering that runway and listen to hear if anyone is in the traffic pattern before rolling onto the runway.Something like “Airport traffic, Blue and white Skyhawk exiting runway 8 via 13, any traffic in the pattern please advise” then make another call when you are off that cross runway. Of course, it is safer to choose to exit a taxiway instead of another runway though.

    In a towered airport, ask the tower’s permission. “Airport tower, request exit/vacate onto runway 13”. My home airport at FXE the tower often gives that instruction even during non busy times (which is rare) and at night. I would not exit the runway on another runway in a towered airport without getting explicit permission to do so by the tower unless if it is for safety necessity of flight.

    Answer your question? 🙂

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  2. compjtc on May 05, 2014

    Yes, thanks!

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  3. Mark Kolber on May 06, 2014

    I’m going to disagree on a point that sounds minor but isn’t.

    At a non-towered airport, there is no such thing as “the active runway.” Unless it is marked closed in some way, the closest you can come is, “the runway nobody else is using right at this moment.” And that’ sobering loose since all it really means is, ?the runway I am using.”

    Los,mid you decide to use a runway instead of a taxiway, it’s no different than if you chose to back taxi.

    Speaking of words and phrases, southflorida, I see you’re still using a phrase the AIM specifically says should not be used.

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  4. Mark Kolber on May 06, 2014

    “That sobering loose!” Wow! iOS really does hate contractions. Let’s try “that’s being loose.”

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  5. Jim F. on May 07, 2014

    “Any traffic please advise”… No, don’t say that…

    And I agree with Mark, at a non-towered, there’s no “active” runway. they’re all the same, regardless of which one is being used and favored by the winds.

    And yes, at a towered airport, just like any other time, you need an explicit clearance to enter a runway, except for crossing it, which the non-LAHSO landing clearance covered.

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  6. Jim MacKay on May 09, 2014

    It depends and I’ve experienced the wrath of controllers doing both.
    Long Beach KLGB landing on 30 you had better not turn off on 25 L the controller went crazy. It apparently is used for the local flight training folks.
    Montgomery Field San Diego KMYF landing on 28 R the tower staff has absolutely no problem with a turn out on 23.

    If you are going to exit on a Runway I’d clear it with the tower first.

    Non Controlled – The wisdom listed above is my recommendation also.

    Jim

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