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Taxiways are pathways at airports that allow aircraft to move between runways and parking areas. These routes are identified by letters of the alphabet, with airports using phonetic pronunciations to avoid confusion. For example, taxiways referred to as Alpha, Bravo, or Charlie are critical for ground navigation.
In the case of Cumbica in the mid-1980s, a confusion occurred between taxiway Alpha and runway designations, leading to catastrophic consequences. Historically, Cumbica dealt with issues stemming from its frequent fog cover, which significantly impaired visibility, especially during morning operations.