New Rules...

[DaveSims]

If I understand this correctly, it's not really a new rule. They're just adapting the one here in Canada. From my understanding, the ground clearance would sound something like "Taxi Alpha across 22 for 32" Where the runway you're expecting to take off from is 32, and the one you had to cross is 22. If that's what is now being enforced in the US, then it's not so bad. It has been in Canada for at least as long as I have been flying, which is coming up on 4 years now.

Its a little more official than that.  You now have to have a clearance to cross the runway.  It would be "Taxi to runway 32 via Taxiway Alpha, cleared to cross runway 22".  They also can not clear you to cross more than runway at a time, so if you cross more than one on your path, they would have to wait for you to cross one before clearing you to cross the other.

[SaultFresh]

Hmm... this still sounds like what they do here in Canada, but the majority of airports with multiple runways never seem to have a taxiway crossing more than one runway, as most multiple-runway airports have paralleling runways. Anyhow, some controllers here will say specifically the words "cleared across" but most just cut it down to the "across" part, I've always taken it to mean the same thing.

[OVERLORD_CHRIS]

Weird how this is a "new rule" Pilots have been doing this for a long time at Charleston Int. They have intersecting runways, with the military side on one side, The Airport off to the side, The 747-LCF ramp next to that, the 787 plant being built onto that, and then 2 FBO's across from that. You defiantly don't wanna cross any thing with that many heavies creating wake turbulence, or running the risk of getting crushed by a C-5, C-17, An-124, The LCF, or a 767, that would ruin your day.

[Al_Fallujah]

I cannot help but think that systems like Aeribahn will help, especially at the larger airports.

recent article about it being set up:
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2010- ... 6_ST_N.htm

The company website showcase:
http://www.sensis.com/docs/261/

Its a step above plain ground RADAR. Could do alot for Runway incursions.