Fellow Air Line Pilots:
We’ve all been there. A push for an “on time” departure, after
pushback, as we begin radio calls to company and ATC for our
release and clearances, complete our preflight paperwork, finish
inputting our flight plan, check the weather—suddenly as we
cross Runway X, we ask our crewmate: “Were we cleared to cross
Runway X?” He looks over and says, “I don’t know.” 
While ALPA has spent millions of dollars and countless hours
dealing with safety in the air, it has also focused on safety
during ground operations. The fact remains that the threat of a
runway incursion, excursion, and confusion can be just as deadly
as any threat we face once airborne.
ALPA has worked hard and successfully for many years to
improve runway design, markings, signage, and technology that
guides us. But nothing can replace the awareness of a pilot in
the cockpit.
Through our new campaign, “Hold Short for Runway Safety,”
ALPA will focus its efforts on preventing runway incursions,
excursions, and confusion. We will provide you commonsense
guidance that will help prevent operational breakdowns. Every
pilot knows we have too much to do and not enough time to do it
between getting in the cockpit and hitting Vr.
Through our professionalism and skills, ALPA pilots complete
thousands of flights each and every day without incident. While
we are accomplishing all that we do in the cockpit, we have to
keep our awareness high, so we can continue to make aviation the
safest form of transportation possible for our passengers and
cargo.