Which statement best defines a runway incursion?

Which statement best defines a runway incursion?

• A. Any occurrence at an aerodrome involving the incorrect presence of an aircraft, vehicle, or person on the protected area of a surface designated for landing and take-off of aircraft.
• B. A serious incident in which a collision was narrowly avoided.
• C. An incident in which separation decreases and a significant potential for collision exists, which may result in a time-critical corrective and evasive response to avoid a collision.
• D. An incident characterized by ample time or distance to avoid collision.

Answer: (A)

Runway incursion means someone or something has entered the runway area designated for landing and takeoff without clearance. The key idea is unauthorized presence on the protected surface, regardless of whether a collision ends up happening. That makes the statement the best fit because it focuses on the act of being on the runway without permission, which is what defines an incursion. The other descriptions describe scenarios involving near-misses or actual collisions or imply there’s ample time to avoid an event. Those emphasize outcomes or urgency rather than the fundamental act of unauthorized entry onto the runway, so they don’t define runway incursion as precisely.

Runway incursion means someone or something has entered the runway area designated for landing and takeoff without clearance. The key idea is unauthorized presence on the protected surface, regardless of whether a collision ends up happening. That makes the statement the best fit because it focuses on the act of being on the runway without permission, which is what defines an incursion.

The other descriptions describe scenarios involving near-misses or actual collisions or imply there’s ample time to avoid an event. Those emphasize outcomes or urgency rather than the fundamental act of unauthorized entry onto the runway, so they don’t define runway incursion as precisely.