Surface Safety Spotlight – Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)

At Los Angeles International Airport, or LAX, pilot deviations have increased at two taxiways on the North Runway Complex. As you can see, parallel runways 24L and 24R are closely spaced. Some pilots landing at runway 24R and exiting at taxiways Victor or Whiskey have failed to hold short of runway 24L. Arriving pilots should be aware that although the taxiways are initially curved, they are not high-speed taxiways, and you will encounter runway 24L quickly after exiting runway 24R. Pilots should manage their speed while exiting runway 24R to ensure you can hold short of runway 24L. This is most critical at the first available exit, taxiway Victor, where the aircraft may be at a higher initial exiting speed. Actively scan for the runway 24L hold short lines, which are on an angle that may be challenging for a first officer to quickly spot. Another concern is that pilots who want to ensure a position well behind the runway 24L hold short line sometimes do not completely clear the runway 24R hold short line behind them. So, next time you fly into LAX, remember that parallel runways 24R and 24L are closely spaced, and manage your workload and aircraft speed to hold short of runway 24L if instructed and fully clear runway 24R. It's always better to know before you go.