Best Practices When Communicating with Air Traffic Control

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Section 7
Best Practices When Communicating with Air
Traffic Control
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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
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Air Traffic Control Tower Light Gun Signals
Vehicle and Personnel Movement
Aircraft on Ground
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 Retu
rn to Starting Point on the Airport Exercise
Extreme Caution
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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
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Crossing Runways During Taxi
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.
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Crossing Runways During Taxi

• Use the Airport Diagram
• Know where you are
• Know where youre going

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Crossing Runways During Taxi
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.
Can the taxiing aircraft proceed to the approach
end of Runway 14 without having to hold anywhere?
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.
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Taxi into Position and Hold
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 others location.
As the pilot of either aircraft, what should you
expect to hear?
A/C 1
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.
A/C 2
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Land and Hold Short Operations
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.
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.
A/C 1
A/C 2
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Using a Runway As a Taxiway

• Actively listen for traffic
• Expedite your taxi time on the runway

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Performing Intersection Takeoffs
Visually check for landing or departing aircraft
before moving onto the runway.
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When Communicating with Air Traffic Control
Listen before transmitting. Think before
transmitting. Monitor ATIS before transmitting.
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• Ensure you understand all ATC instructions
• Do not hesitate to ask for progressive taxi
  instructions if unfamiliar with airport or
  confused

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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
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• An ambiguous clearance
• An unintelligible transmission
• A clearance that doesnt fit
• Someone else acknowledging your clearance

Always Question
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Readback All Hold Short Instructions
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During Night Operations

• Cockpit workload increases
• Distractions tend to increase
• Fatigue level increases
• Attention to communications decrease.

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Scan Outside the Cockpit Especially When on
Taxiways and Runways
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Certain environmental conditions, such as snow,
fog, or heavy rain may prevent visual
confirmation by ATC of an aircrafts position on
the airport and adherence to taxi instructions.
Inform ATC immediately if you become disoriented
End of Section 7