What defines a surface incident?

A surface incident is defined specifically as any event that occurs on the airport's movement area (which includes runways and taxiways) that could potentially affect aircraft operations. This definition encompasses unauthorized movements, such as vehicles, personnel, or aircraft straying into restricted areas or moving when they should not be.

The choice identifying unauthorized movements underlines the importance of maintaining safety protocols and ensuring that all entities acting in the movement area adhere strictly to regulations. Such incidents can lead to dangerous situations, including runway incursions or other conflicts that could compromise safety, hence their classification as significant events.

In contrast, other options focus on specific types of accidents or delays, but they do not encompass the broader scope of what constitutes a surface incident within aviation operations. For example, a collision on the runway, while serious, is typically classified as an accident rather than a surface incident. Similarly, flight delays, while impactful, do not directly categorize events that occur within the movement area and are not necessarily linked to unauthorized actions. Pilot errors in navigation would fall under a different category relating to airborne incidents rather than surface incidents.