Description

Currently, there is no standard shape to designate a hot spot on airport diagrams within chart supplements and the Terminal Procedures Publication; they are charted with a variety of squares, rectangles, circles, ovals, and ellipses with no pattern or consistency. Beginning May 19, 2022, the FAA will standardize these symbols to three shapes with two distinct meanings: a circle or ellipse for ground movement hot spots and a cylinder for wrong surface hot spots.

Here is the FAA's Hot Spot Standardized Symbology

What are the different types of hot spots? Ground movement hot spots are defined as airport movement areas with a history or potential risk of collision or runway incursion, and where heightened attention by pilots, drivers and controllers is necessary.

A circle or ellipse will depict these hot spots, which include issues such as:

hold short line infractions
approach hold issues
complex taxiway configurations
movement-non movement boundary area issues
tower line of sight problems
marking and signage issues.

Wrong surface hot spots depict locations where an aircraft has inadvertently attempted to or actually departed or landed on the wrong surface. A cylinder will depict these hot spots.



The FAA is also introducing Arrival Alert Notices (AAN) at several airports with a history of misalignment risk. AANs provide a graphic visually depicting the approach to a particular airport with a history of misalignment risk. AANs will incorporate the new standardized hot spot symbology.

Here is the FAA's Arrival Alert Notices

From the private pilot ACS:
PA.II.D.K6a - a. Appropriate flight deck activities prior to taxi, including route planning and identifying the location of Hot Spots

From the commercial pilot ACS:
CA.II.D.K6a - a. Appropriate flight deck activities prior to taxi, including route planning and identifying the location of Hot Spots

PvtLP, InstLP, ComLP, CFILP, CFIILP, MultiLP, MEILP, SeaplaneLP, MiscLP