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Aerodrome

Initial IFR Clearance Request

Every flight under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) must receive an initial IFR clearance. This clearance approves the flight plan and allows the flight to proceed.

Clearances Shall Contain:

  1. Aircraft identification
  2. Clearance limit
  3. Designator of the assigned SID (if applicable)
  4. Cleared level(s)
  5. Allocated SSR code (squawk/transponder code)
  6. Any other necessary instructions or information not contained in the SID description (e.g., non-standard departure route, change of frequency instructions)

Example IFR Clearances:

  • CLEARED TO (destination airfield) VIA (departure SID identifier) DEPARTURE, [RUNWAY (departure runway)], FLIGHT PLANNED ROUTE, CLIMB (initial level), SQUAWK (squawk number).
  • CLEARED TO (destination airfield), FLIGHT PLANNED ROUTE, CLIMB (initial level), AFTER DEPARTURE (description of the clearance to follow - omnidirectional or non-standard clearance), SQUAWK (squawk number).

Example of a Vectored Departure:

Pilot Requests Permission to Start:

Scandinavian 845: CLEARED TO Stockholm-Arlanda VIA ROC1H departure, RUNWAY 14, CLIMB 4000 feet, SQUAWK 3456

Scandinavian 509: CLEARED to Stockholm Arlanda, CLIMB altitude 4000 feet, SQUAWK 3737, AFTER DEPARTURE maintain runway track, when passing 3000ft turn left direct Nicky VOR.

Starting Procedures

Example Requests:

  • [Aircraft location] REQUEST START UP
  • [Aircraft location] REQUEST START UP, INFORMATION (ATIS identification)
  • START UP APPROVED
  • START UP AT (time)
  • EXPECT START UP AT (time)
  • START UP AT OWN DISCRETION
  • EXPECT DEPARTURE (time), START UP AT OWN DISCRETION

Note: In some countries, starting procedures do not oblige the pilot to start engines immediately. It grants permission to initiate the complex starting process.

Pushback Procedures

Pilot Requests a Pushback:

  • [Aircraft location] REQUEST PUSHBACK
  • PUSHBACK APPROVED
  • STAND BY
  • PUSHBACK AT OWN DISCRETION
  • EXPECT (number) MINUTES DELAY DUE TO (reason).

Note: At some airports, pushback authorization must be obtained from the control tower.

Towing Procedure:

  • REQUEST TOWING FROM (Aircraft location) TO (location)
  • TOW APPROVED VIA (specific routing to be followed)
  • HOLD POSITION
  • STAND BY

Requesting Departure Information

Pilot Requests Departure Information (If No ATIS Broadcast Is Available or Information Is Outdated)

  • REQUEST DEPARTURE INFORMATION

ATC Reply:

  • RUNWAY (number), WIND (direction and speed) (units), QNH (or QFE) (number) [(units)], TEMPERATURE [MINUS] (number), [VISIBILITY (distance) (units) (or RUNWAY VISUAL RANGE (RVR) (distance) (units))], TIME (time)

Taxi Procedures

Pilot Requests Taxi to Assigned Runway (Given in Clearance)

  • [Aircraft type] [wake turbulence category if "heavy"] [Aircraft location] REQUEST TAXI [intentions]
  • [Aircraft type] [wake turbulence category if "heavy"] [Aircraft location] (flight rules) TO (destination aerodrome) REQUEST TAXI [intentions]

ATC Taxi Instructions:

  • TAXI TO HOLDING POINT [number] [RUNWAY (number)] [HOLD SHORT OF RUNWAY (number) (or CROSS RUNWAY (number))] [TIME (time)]
  • TAXI TO HOLDING POINT [number] [RUNWAY (number)] VIA (specific route) [HOLD SHORT OF RUNWAY (number) (or CROSS RUNWAY (number))] [TIME (time)]
  • [Aircraft type] [wake turbulence category if "heavy"] REQUEST DETAILED TAXI INSTRUCTIONS
  • TAXI TO HOLDING POINT [number] [RUNWAY (number)] VIA (specific route) [TIME (time)] [HOLD SHORT OF RUNWAY (number) (or CROSS RUNWAY (number))]

Other Taxi Instructions:

  • TAKE (or TURN) FIRST (or SECOND) LEFT (or RIGHT)
  • TAXI VIA (identification of taxiway)
  • TAXI STRAIGHT AHEAD
  • TAXI TO TERMINAL [STAND (number)]
  • TAXI TO GENERAL AVIATION AREA
  • TAXI TO (other location)
  • TAXI VIA RUNWAY (number)

Helicopter Taxi Procedures

Pilot Requests Movement:

  • REQUEST AIR-TAXIING FROM (or VIA) TO (location or routing as appropriate)

ATC Reply:

  • AIR-TAXI TO (or VIA) (location or routing as appropriate) [CAUTION (dust, blowing snow, loose debris, taxiing light aircraft, personnel, etc.)]
  • AIR-TAXI VIA (direct, as requested, or specified route) TO (location, heliport, operating or movement area, active or inactive runway). AVOID (aircraft or vehicles or personnel)

Runway Operations

Pilot Requests Backtracking:

  • REQUEST BACKTRACK
  • BACKTRACK APPROVED
  • BACKTRACK RUNWAY (number)

ATC Instructions for Taxiing Aircraft with Traffic:

  • TAXI WITH CAUTION
  • GIVE WAY TO (description and position of other aircraft)
  • GIVING WAY TO (traffic)
  • TRAFFIC (or type of aircraft) IN SIGHT
  • TAXI INTO HOLDING BAY
  • FOLLOW (description of other aircraft or vehicle)
  • VACATE RUNWAY
  • EXPEDITE TAXI [(reason)]
  • [CAUTION] TAXI SLOWER [reason]
  • RUNWAY VACATED
  • EXPEDITING
  • SLOWING DOWN

Holding on the Ground

ATC Instructions:

  • HOLD (direction) OF (position, runway number, etc.)
  • HOLD POSITION
  • HOLD (distance) FROM (position)
  • HOLD SHORT OF (position)

Pilot Replies:

  • HOLDING
  • HOLDING SHORT

Note: The procedure words "ROGER" and "WILCO" are not sufficient acknowledgements for HOLD, HOLD POSITION, or HOLD SHORT OF instructions. Pilots must explicitly respond with HOLDING or HOLDING SHORT as appropriate.

Crossing Runway

Pilot Requests a Runway Cross:

  • REQUEST CROSS RUNWAY (number)

Note: If the control tower cannot see the crossing aircraft (e.g., at night, in low visibility), the instruction must be accompanied by a request to report when the aircraft has vacated the runway.

ATC Replies:

  • CROSS RUNWAY (number) [REPORT VACATED]
  • EXPEDITE CROSSING RUNWAY (number) TRAFFIC (aircraft type) (distance) KILOMETRES (or MILES) FINAL
  • TAXI TO HOLDING POINT [number] [RUNWAY (number)] VIA (specific route), [HOLD SHORT OF RUNWAY (number)] or [CROSS RUNWAY (number)]

Note: Pilots must report "RUNWAY VACATED" when the entire aircraft has cleared the relevant runway-holding position.

Reporting Runway Vacation

Pilot Reports After Runway Vacated:

  • RUNWAY VACATED

Preparation for Take-Off

ATC Checks If Pilot Is Ready for Departure:

  • REPORT WHEN READY [FOR DEPARTURE]
  • ARE YOU READY [FOR DEPARTURE]?
  • ARE YOU READY FOR IMMEDIATE DEPARTURE?

Pilot Replies:

  • READY

ATC Instructions to Line Up:

  • LINE UP [AND WAIT]
  • LINE UP RUNWAY (number)
  • LINE UP. BE READY FOR IMMEDIATE DEPARTURE

ATC Conditional Clearance:

  • (Condition) LINE UP RUNWAY (number) (brief reiteration of the condition)
  • (Condition) LINING UP RUNWAY (number) (brief reiteration of the condition)

Pilot Acknowledges Conditional Clearance:

  • [THAT IS] CORRECT
  • (NEGATIVE) [I SAY AGAIN] (Instruction as appropriate)

Pilot Requests Departure Instructions:

  • REQUEST DEPARTURE INSTRUCTIONS

ATC Replies:

  • AFTER DEPARTURE TURN RIGHT (or LEFT, or CLIMB) (instructions as appropriate)

Take-off Clearance

ATC Clearance for Take-off:

  • RUNWAY (number) CLEARED FOR TAKE-OFF [REPORT AIRBORNE]
  • (Traffic information) RUNWAY (number) CLEARED FOR TAKE-OFF
  • TAKE OFF IMMEDIATELY OR VACATE RUNWAY
  • TAKE OFF IMMEDIATELY OR HOLD SHORT OF RUNWAY

ATC Instructions When Take-off Clearance Is Not Complied With:

  • HOLD POSITION, CANCEL TAKE-OFF I SAY AGAIN CANCEL TAKE-OFF (reason)
  • HOLDING

ATC Instruction to Stop a Take-off After an Aircraft Has Started the Take-off Roll:

  • STOP IMMEDIATELY [(repeat aircraft call sign) STOP IMMEDIATELY]
  • STOPPING

ATC Clearance for Helicopter Take-off:

  • CLEARED FOR TAKE-OFF [FROM (location)] (present position, taxiway, final approach and take-off area, runway and number)

After Take-off

Pilot Requests Turn After Departure (VFR):

  • REQUEST RIGHT (or LEFT) TURN

ATC Replies:

  • RIGHT (or LEFT) TURN APPROVED
  • WILL ADVISE LATER FOR RIGHT (or LEFT) TURN

ATC Instruction to Report Airborne:

  • REPORT AIRBORNE
  • AIRBORNE (time)

Note: The phraseology "Airborne" is used based on local regulations. Some airports require it, others reserve it for military use, and some forbid it entirely.

ATC Instructions with Level Constraints:

  • AFTER PASSING (level), (instructions)

ATC Instructions on Heading or Track:

  • CONTINUE RUNWAY HEADING (instructions)
  • TRACK EXTENDED CENTRE LINE (instructions)
  • CLIMB STRAIGHT AHEAD (instructions)

Entering the Aerodrome Traffic Circuit (VFR)

Pilot Requests Clearance to Enter the Zone for Landing:

  • [Aircraft type] (position) (level) INFORMATION (ATIS identification) FOR LANDING
  • [Aircraft type] (position) (level) FOR LANDING

ATC Replies:

  • JOIN [(direction of circuit)] (position in circuit) (runway number) [SURFACE] WIND (direction and speed) (units)
  • JOIN (position in circuit) [RUNWAY (number)] QNH (or QFE) (number) [(units)] [TRAFFIC (detail)]
  • MAKE STRAIGHT-IN APPROACH, RUNWAY (number) [SURFACE] WIND (direction and speed) (units) [TEMPERATURE [MINUS] (number)] QNH (or QFE) (number) [(units)] [TRAFFIC (detail)]

Pilot Reports Position Inside the Circuit:

  • (position in circuit, e.g., DOWNWIND/FINAL), RUNWAY (number)

ATC Instructions for Traffic Sequence:

  • NUMBER (number) FOLLOW (aircraft type and position) [additional instructions if required]

Final Approach Instructions (VFR)

ATC Instructions:

  • MAKE SHORT APPROACH RUNWAY (number)
  • MAKE LONG APPROACH RUNWAY (number)
  • REPORT FINAL (or LONG FINAL) RUNWAY (number)
  • REPORT BASE RUNWAY (number)
  • CONTINUE APPROACH [PREPARE FOR POSSIBLE GO AROUND]
  • EXTEND DOWNWIND RUNWAY (number)
  • FINAL RUNWAY (number)

Note:

  • The report "FINAL" is required when the aircraft is less than 7 km (4 NM) from touchdown.
  • The report "LONG FINAL" applies when an aircraft turns onto final at more than 7 km (4 NM) or when an aircraft on a straight-in approach is 15 km (8 NM) from touchdown.

Landing Clearance

ATC Issues Landing Clearance:

  • RUNWAY (number) CLEARED TO LAND
  • (Traffic information), RUNWAY (number) CLEARED TO LAND

Note: In all landing clearances, the term "CLEARED" is mandatory. The phrase "RUNWAY" followed by the runway number is also required.

Special Landing Operations:

  • CLEARED TOUCH AND GO
  • MAKE A FULL STOP

Special Aerodrome Operations

Pilot Requests a Low Approach:

  • REQUEST LOW APPROACH (reason)
  • CLEARED LOW APPROACH [RUNWAY (number)] [(altitude restriction if required) (go-around instructions)]

Pilot Requests a Low Pass:

  • REQUEST LOW PASS (reason)
  • CLEARED LOW PASS APPROACH [RUNWAY (number)] [(altitude restriction if required) (go-around instructions)]

Pilot Requests a Straight-in or Circling Approach:

  • REQUEST STRAIGHT-IN (or CIRCLING APPROACH, LEFT (or RIGHT) TURN TO (location))
  • MAKE STRAIGHT-IN (or CIRCLING APPROACH, LEFT (or RIGHT) TURN TO (location, runway, taxiway, final approach and take-off area)) [ARRIVAL (or ARRIVAL ROUTE) (number, name, or code)]. [HOLD SHORT OF (active runway, extended runway centre line, other)].

Delaying VFR Aircraft

ATC Instructions to Delay Landing:

  • CIRCLE THE AERODROME
  • ORBIT (RIGHT, or LEFT) [FROM PRESENT POSITION]
  • MAKE ANOTHER CIRCUIT

Missed Approach

ATC Instructs Aircraft to Go Around:

  • GO AROUND

Pilot Replies:

  • GOING AROUND

Special Aerodrome Operations

ATC Instruction for Visual Inspection of Landing Gear (During a Low Pass):

  • LANDING GEAR APPEARS DOWN
  • RIGHT (or LEFT, or NOSE) WHEEL APPEARS UP (or DOWN)
  • WHEELS APPEAR UP
  • RIGHT (or LEFT, or NOSE) WHEEL DOES NOT APPEAR UP (or DOWN)

ATC Instruction for Wake Turbulence and Jet Blast Warnings:

  • CAUTION WAKE TURBULENCE [FROM ARRIVING (or DEPARTING) (type of aircraft)] [additional information as required]
  • CAUTION JET BLAST
  • CAUTION SLIPSTREAM

Runway Vacating and Post-Landing Communication

ATC Instructions After Landing:

  • CONTACT GROUND (frequency)
  • WHEN VACATED CONTACT GROUND (frequency)
  • EXPEDITE VACATING
  • TAKE (or TURN) FIRST (or SECOND, or CONVENIENT) LEFT (or RIGHT) AND CONTACT GROUND (frequency)
  • YOUR STAND (or GATE) (designation)

Helicopter Post-Landing Instructions:

  • AIR-TAXI TO HELICOPTER STAND (or) HELICOPTER PARKING POSITION (area)
  • AIR-TAXI TO (or VIA) (location or routing as appropriate) [CAUTION (dust, blowing snow, loose debris, taxiing light aircraft, personnel, etc.)]
  • AIR-TAXI VIA (direct, as requested, or specified route) TO (location, heliport, operating or movement area, active or inactive runway). AVOID (aircraft or vehicles or personnel)
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