Each airport in the National Airspace System has unique and distinct characteristics.
This can sometimes lead pilots to use the wrong surface in taxi takeoff or landing operations.
Let's take a look at some of these tricky areas from the flight deck.
El Paso International Airport is a medium-sized multi-use airport
located north and east of the city of El Paso, Texas. Pilots inbound for El Paso should note that
the airport is located a mere 3.5 miles north of the U.S Mexico border and should plan accordingly.
Another unique aspect of El Paso is that Biggs Army Airfield is less than two miles north.
Biggs runway configuration matches El Paso's Runway 4 and 2-2
and the airports are confused for one another on a daily basis.
This issue warrants additional awareness from both pilots and controllers.
The traffic mix at El Paso International consists of almost every segment of aviation.
Scheduled air carriers both domestic and international,
business and general aviation, as well as transient military aircraft utilize the airport.
Although there are no flight schools located on the airport, surrounding airport training flights
frequently visit El Paso for practice at a towered airport. This mix of pilot experience and aircraft
capability makes El Paso a challenging airport for both pilots and controllers.
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The airport configuration consists of a set of parallel runways with staggered thresholds.
Runways 8 and 26 left and right and the larger non-intersecting Runway 4 and 2-2.
A complex taxiway system provides access to all terminals,
ramps, and services located primarily on the south side of the airport.
As with any airport with parallel runways and full-length parallel taxiways,
the possibility of wrong surface landings exists.
While not particularly a problem at El Paso on Runways 8 and 26 left and right,
the location of Biggs Army Airfield, specifically their Runway 4 and 22 mentioned earlier, does make
wrong surface landings a risk for pilots operating to both of these airports. In this situation,
loading an instrument approach procedure to the runway and airport you intend to land on can help
avoid a costly mistake. The first-time visitors should pay close attention to runway assignment.
Another arrival issue at El Paso concerns aircraft approaching from the east and
southeast on the right downwind for runway 8 right. Several aircraft have turned base,
visually acquired Runway 4, and then attempted to land on Runway 4.
Again, loading an instrument approach to your assigned runway, in this case, 8 right and
cross-checking that what you see out the window aligns with what is displayed on the approach
will help mitigate this risk. In addition, always verify that the runway identification
markings you see correspond to the runway on which you have been cleared to land.
Hotspot 1 is simply a large and complex area of concrete where several taxiways
and an extended runway center line come together. Pilots have become confused,
especially when taxiing from the GA ramp area for takeoff on Runway 4 or Runway 8 right. [Music]
Another issue that occurs at this location concerns the large
non-movement area surrounding the terminal. Aircraft push back from the gates on their
own and have conflicted with aircraft rolling out on the runoff area for Runway 2-6 left.
Add to this, a taxiing GA aircraft headed for Runway 4 from the east ramps and the
potential for serious congestion and confusion at this location becomes much more apparent.
Complete understanding of taxi clearance including route, turns, and hold short instructions
prior to taxi along with extra vigilance outside the aircraft for taxiway markings,
above ground signage and lights, and of course other aircraft while moving
will go a long way in avoiding potential confusion and congestion.
Of course, if you are ever in doubt or don't understand your clearance or instruction,
the easiest solution is to ask the tower, they are there to help.
Not listed as hot spots, but areas that are still a concern specifically involve departures.
Pilots need to be aware that the approach ends of Runways 4 and 2 2 are not visible from the tower.
There is also an increased risk of communication issues in these
areas due to radio line of sight limitations.
One last issue to be aware of concerns rising terrain to the west of the airport.
When departing to the west or southwest pilots need to be aware that they may need to turn north
or south after departure. Thorough pre-departure planning will eliminate any unexpected issues.
Being aware of the hot spots and other configuration issues at El Paso
will help pilots make better decisions and along with the air traffic control tower
keep the operation safe and efficient. We hope this short video helps you prepare for your
trip to the El Paso International Airport. It's always better to know before you go.