The hotspot recognition algorithm is proposed based on a potential collision in order to study the aircraft taxi conflicts in large airports.The spatial and temporal distribution characteristics of hotspots are analyzed based on the risk assessment model of hotspot constructed in this paper.Firstly,approaches for monitoring of the aerodrome movement were compared.The hotspot recognition algorithm taken into account of whether aircrafts’ taxi track has spatial and temporal overlap based on the aerodrome surveillance radar (ASR) data was presented,by identifying the hotspots through analyzing whether the aircrafts’ time of entering and exiting the same taxiway is overlap or not,and the heading difference and distance of the two aircrafts satisfy the specified threshold constraint condition.Then,the ASR data were divided into several parts,and then airport hotspots were recognized and the spatial and temporal distribution characteristics were analyzed.The risk assessment model of airport safety hotspots was constructed which is taken into account of the conflict probability and its severity consequence.Finally,based on the risk grade assessment criteria and hotspots’ risk value,the risk grade ranking of hotspot in one airport of China was evaluated and designated.According to the result,the spatial and temporal distribution characteristics of airport hotspots were varied with the variation of airport traffic flow and operational mode of runway,which shows that the hotspots have the characteristics of dynamic periodicity and dial variation.And the risk assessment results were consistent with experts’ opinions and actual operation condition,which verified the rationality of the hotspot recognition algorithm,risk assessment model as well as the risk grade ranking criteria.