Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 30; Flight Crew Total 4000; Flight Crew Type 20
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
Conflict Ground Conflict; Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Incursion Runway
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Airport; Procedure; Human Factors
I would like to convey an incident that happened as I was set to takeoff. Engine maintenance had been performed earlier in the day to correct an oil leak emanating from a few of the cylinder push rod tubes. I planned to stay in the pattern for safety reasons; which is prudent any time after major maintenance has been performed on an aircraft engine. As I entered runway TWO-ZERO; [another] aircraft (local parachute jumping operator) also entered the runway immediately behind and slightly to my left. Mind you; cylinders had just been dissembled on my aircraft and there was an increased chance that I may abort my takeoff if everything wasn't perfect on the takeoff roll. Assuming that the skydive aircraft was intending to maintain the formation position and start a takeoff roll as soon as I started my takeoff roll; I elected to taxi straight ahead and exit the runway at taxiway 'C'. No prior agreement had been made regarding both aircraft being on the runway at the same time. I made the radio call that I was taxiing forward and exiting the runway as a Beechcraft was turning final for runway TWO-ZERO. There was much apprehension in the voice of the Beechcraft pilot as he was trying to figure out if he had time to make a safe approach and landing with two aircraft on the runway. I was not comfortable executing an immediate rolling takeoff; so that there was sufficient time for the skydive aircraft to also takeoff; before the Beechcraft touched down. It was absolutely an unsafe situation. The FAA website shows the definition of a runway incursion as: Any occurrence at an aerodrome involving the incorrect presence of an aircraft; vehicle or person on the protected area of a surface designated for the landing and take off of aircraft. The FAA goes on to categorize the varying levels of severity as it relates to a runway incursion. Had I started my takeoff roll; I would have not had sufficient time to avoid a collision of an aircraft commencing a takeoff in a trailing formation position.
GA pilot reported exiting the runway after a skydive aircraft entered the runway behind him in an apparent attempt to expedite takeoff while another aircraft was also on final approach.