What must be protected by holding short of the runway 15 approach area during taxi?

The correct response involves recognizing the need to maintain safety and operational integrity while taxiing near an active runway. When holding short of the runway 15 approach area during taxiing, it is crucial to protect not only runway 15 but also the associated runway 33 departures.

In practice, when an aircraft is approaching runway 15, any taxi operations that could potentially interfere with that approach must be carefully managed. Moreover, since runway 33 is configured as a departure runway that may be in use concurrently, protecting it from interference is also necessary. Thus, ensuring that both the approach to runway 15 and the departures from runway 33 are protected can prevent any potential conflicts or hazardous situations.

Taxiing operations need to consider the overall air traffic flow, including departures and approaches. This overarching principle of safety dictates that both runways in this scenario require protection from potential obstructions or conflicts that could arise if an aircraft is holding inappropriately close to the active airspace. Thus, maintaining an appropriate distance from both runways is essential for safe operations.