From the FAA perspective on runway incursions and surface incidents, which statement is correct?

• A. Aircraft always have right of way
• B. Pilots always have right of way
• C. ATC has priority over pilots
• D. Vehicles have priority on the runway

Answer: (A)

On the movement area of an airport, aircraft have priority over all other traffic to keep runways clear and reduce the risk of incursions. That means ground vehicles, pedestrians, and other non-aircraft movements must yield to aircraft and follow ATC instructions for entry onto or across runways. This priority helps ensure that aircraft can taxi, take off, and land with the space they need, even if that requires vehicles to pause or stop.

Pilots and ATC work together to manage any potential conflicts, with ATC issuing clearances and hold instructions, but the baseline rule is that aircraft have the right of way. The idea that pilots always have priority, or that ATC has blanket priority over pilots, or that vehicles have priority on the runway, doesn’t align with FAA runway safety rules, where aircraft on the movement area take precedence to minimize serious safety risks.