Best Practices When Communicating with Air Traffic Control

Section 7

Pilots should use the phonetic alphabet when identifying their aircraft during initial contact with air traffic control facilities.

A…..Alfa B….. Bravo C….. Charlie

D…..Delta E….. Echo F….. Foxtrot

G…..Golf H….. Hotel I….. India

J….. Juliett K….. Kilo L….. Lima

M…..Mike N….. November O…..Oscar

P….. Papa Q….. Quebec R….. Romeo

S….. Sierra T….. Tango U….. Uniform

V….. Victor W…..Whiskey X….. Xray

Y….. Yankee Z….. Zulu

Air Traffic Control Tower Light Gun Signals

Aircraft on Ground Vehicle and Personnel Movement

Cleared for Takeoff

Cleared for Taxi

STOP

Taxi Clear of Runway

Return to Starting Point on Airport

Exercise Extreme Caution

Cleared to Cross,

Proceed or Go

Not Applicable

STOP

Clear the Taxiway/Runway

Return to Starting Point

on the Airport

Exercise Extreme Caution

Taxi Scenarios

Crossing Runways during Taxi

Taxi into Position and Hold (TIPH)

Land and Hold Short Operations (LAHSO)

Using a Runway as a Taxiway

Intersection Takeoffs

A clearance to “taxi to” the takeoff runway is NOT a clearance to cross the ASSIGNED takeoff runway, or to taxi on the ASSIGNED takeoff runway at any point, but it is a clearance to cross OTHER runways that intersect the taxi route to the assigned takeoff runway.

Crossing Runways During Taxi

Crossing Runways During Taxi

•Use the Airport Diagram

•Know where you are

•Know where you’re going

Aircraft is issued taxi instructions that authorize the crossing of all runways that intersect the taxi route. “Runway 14, taxi via Echo and Juliet, hold short Runway 14”.

Answer: NO. The taxiing aircraft is expected to hold short at the intersection of Taxiway E and Runway 14. Further ATC clearance is required to cross Runway 14 enroute to the approach end.

Can the taxiing aircraft proceed to the approach end of Runway 14 without having to hold anywhere?

Crossing Runways During Taxi

A/C 1

A/C 2

Aircraft #1 is instructed to taxi into position and hold Runway 35R and to “expect an immediate departure” while aircraft #2 has been issued landing clearance to same runway. ATC has informed each pilot as to the other’s location.

As the pilot of either aircraft, what should you expect to hear?

Answer: Aircraft #1 will be told about traffic on final and should expect takeoff clearance soon after reaching position and hold. Aircraft #2 will be told about the traffic in position and should expect clearance to land on short final. If already cleared to land and A/C #1 has not departed, A/C #2 should question the tower. If no response, execute a go around and advise ATC. Never land over another aircraft in position on the runway.

Taxi into Position and Hold

Aircraft #1 is told “Runway 30, cleared to land, hold short of Runway 36, traffic, C172 departing Runway 36”. Aircraft #2 is holding in position Runway 36 and receives the following clearance “Traffic, C172 landing Runway 30, will hold short of intersection, Runway 36, cleared for takeoff.”

A/C 1

A/C 2

What should each aircraft and ATC listen for?Answer: ATC and A/C 2 should

hear A/C 1 acknowledge (read back) the land and hold short instructions. A/C 1 should understand that A/C 2 has been given takeoff clearance and will be crossing in front from left to right. A/C 1 should not proceed beyond the TIPH hold marking until advised by ATC. The critical communication loop involves a complete understanding between ATC, A/C 1 and A/C 2.

Land and Hold Short Operations

Using a Runway As a Taxiway

•Actively listen for traffic

•Expedite your taxi time on the runway

Performing Intersection Takeoffs

Visually check for landing or departing aircraft before moving onto the runway.

Listen before transmitting.

Think before transmitting.

Monitor ATIS before transmitting.

When Communicating with Air Traffic Control

•Ensure you understand all ATC instructions

•Do not hesitate to ask for progressive taxi instructions if unfamiliar with airport or confused

Maintain a “sterile cockpit” during taxi, takeoff and landing

Never stop on a runway after landing to ask for directions. Clear the runway first,

then ask ground control for directions

•An ambiguous clearance

•An unintelligible transmission

•A clearance that doesn’t “fit”

•Someone else acknowledging your clearance

Always Question

Readback All Hold Short Instructions

•Cockpit workload increases

•Distractions tend to increase

•Fatigue level increases

•Attention to communications decrease.

During Night Operations

Scan Outside the Cockpit – Especially When on Taxiways and Runways

Certain environmental conditions, such as snow, fog, or heavy rain may prevent visual confirmation by ATC of an aircraft’s position

on the airport and adherence to taxi instructions.

Inform ATC immediately if you become disoriented

End of Section 7