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Aerospace/Aviation/Loading passengers on an active runway
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Question
Is it legal to load or unload passengers to or from an aircraft on an active runway? Not on a taxiway, but actually on the runway.
Hi Phil,
There are situations where this would be possible. However, it would not be safe.
A situation where this could be done would be at an airport without an operating control tower. This type of airport can have multiple runways. There is no specified "active" runway since a pilot may choose to land on several different runways, especially if the wind were calm. And after landing, the pilot could choose to allow the passengers to depart the airplane while sitting on the active runway. There is no specific rule that says a pilot could not do this. A pilot can taxi onto the active runway and not take off immediately, at a non-controlled airport like I described. But, this would be foolish because other airplanes may also be landing and may or may not have radios to communicate and hear the intentions other aircraft at that airport without an operating control tower.
Now, at an airport with a control tower, the control tower will not allow a pilot to just stop on the active runway to deplane passengers unless a very good reason is given. For example, if an airplane experiences a landing gear problem, and after landing the pilot chooses to evacuate the passengers, then they would unload on a runway. But if the airplane is sitting on the runway disabled for some reason, that runway would no longer really be the active runway as no one else can land there during the evacuation and until the airplane could be moved.
I hope I answered your question. I cannot think of a specific rule where it is completely prohibited but it is not going to happen at a controlled airport and it would be rather foolish to do at an airport without an operating control tower.
Thanks!
Laura
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Answers by Expert:
Laura Laster
Expertise
I can help with questions about aviation disasters, aircraft operations especially general aviation and King Air information, aviation safety, and education questions on how to get into an aviation career. I can also answer general aviation questions as I am a commercial multi-engine pilot. I cannot answer questions about flight training or MBA schools in countries other than the USA or provide advice for non-US citizens interested in flight training. I cannot answer questions advising you what school to choose. I have no experience with aeronautical engineering so I cannot answer questions relating to engineering or schooling for aeronautical engineers. PLEASE don't ask me questions about any kind of engineering because it is outside my area of expertise, and I will NOT answer your question. I also cannot help you to choose a master's program for study as I do not have a master's degree in aviation. I cannot help with MBA advice.
Experience
I have been studying aviation disasters through doing my own research and a lot of reading since I was 13 or 14 years old. I am very interested in aviation safety and also am a commercial, multi-engine pilot. I am a dispatch manager at a private university working in their flight training department. I also have worked as an operations mamager at a small charter airline and was involved in getting the airline certificated under Part 121 rules. I was formerly a flight operations division manager for a company operating a large fleet of King Air aircraft (60) and so I have some business aviation experience as well as having flight instructed for one year after college. My operations manager job frequently involved coordinating international trips for aerial survey clients and hiring qualified pilots to fly aerial survey missions.
Education/Credentials
Bachelor of Science, Aeronautical Science with Flight Management Concentration: LeTourneau University (2004) :: Dispatch Certificate: Sheffield School of Aeronautics (2010) ::
Commercial Pilot: Single and Multi Engine Land, Instrument Rating ::
Flight Instructor: Single, Multi and Instrument ::
Ground Instructor: Basic and Advanced
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