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Approach

Departure Instructions

ATC Departure Instructions:

  • [AFTER DEPARTURE] TURN RIGHT (or LEFT) HEADING (three digits) (or CONTINUE RUNWAY HEADING) (or TRACK EXTENDED CENTRE LINE) TO (level or significant point) [(other instructions as required)]
  • AFTER REACHING (or PASSING) (level or significant point) (instructions)
  • TURN RIGHT (or LEFT) HEADING (three digits) TO (level) [TO INTERCEPT (track, route, airway, etc.)]
  • (Standard departure name and number) DEPARTURE
  • TRACK (three digits) DEGREES [MAGNETIC (or TRUE)] TO (or FROM) (significant point) UNTIL (time, or REACHING (fix or significant point or level)) [BEFORE PROCEEDING ON COURSE]
  • CLEARED (designation) DEPARTURE

ATC Instruction to Proceed Direct with Advance Notice to Rejoin SID:

  • CLEARED DIRECT (waypoint), CLIMB TO (level), EXPECT TO REJOIN SID [(SID designator)] [AT (waypoint)], then REJOIN SID [(SID designator)] [AT (waypoint)]
  • CLEARED DIRECT (waypoint), CLIMB TO (level), then REJOIN SID (SID designator) AT (waypoint)

Climb via SID

ATC Clearance to Climb on a SID:

  • CLIMB VIA SID TO (level).

Cancelling Level or Speed Restrictions on a SID:

  • [CLIMB VIA SID TO (level)], CANCEL LEVEL RESTRICTION(S)
  • [CLIMB VIA SID TO (level)], CANCEL LEVEL RESTRICTION(S) AT (point(s))
  • [CLIMB VIA SID TO (level)], CANCEL SPEED RESTRICTION(S)
  • [CLIMB VIA SID TO (level)], CANCEL SPEED RESTRICTION(S) AT (point(s))
  • CLIMB UNRESTRICTED TO (level) (or) CLIMB TO (level), CANCEL LEVEL AND SPEED RESTRICTIONS

Vectoring Instructions

General Vectoring Instructions:

  • FLY HEADING (three digits);
  • TURN LEFT (or RIGHT) HEADING (three digits) [reason];
  • TURN LEFT (or RIGHT) (number of degrees) DEGREES [reason];

Additional ATC Vectoring Instructions:

  • LEAVE (significant point) HEADING (three digits);
  • CONTINUE HEADING (three digits);
  • CONTINUE PRESENT HEADING;
  • STOP TURN HEADING (three digits);
  • FLY HEADING (three digits), WHEN ABLE PROCEED DIRECT (name) (significant point);
  • HEADING IS GOOD.

Terminating Vectoring:

  • RESUME OWN NAVIGATION (position of aircraft) (specific instructions);
  • RESUME OWN NAVIGATION [DIRECT] (significant point) [MAGNETIC TRACK (three digits) DISTANCE (number) KILOMETRES (or MILES)].

Vectoring Reasons:

  • DUE TRAFFIC
  • FOR SPACING
  • FOR DELAY
  • FOR DOWNWIND (or BASE, or FINAL)

ATC Instruction for Avoiding Action:

  • DO YOU WANT VECTORS?

Pilot Requests Vectoring:

  • REQUEST VECTORS

Descent via STAR

ATC STAR Arrival Instructions:

  • DESCEND VIA STAR TO (level)

Cancelling Level or Speed Restrictions on STAR:

  • [DESCEND VIA STAR TO (level)], CANCEL LEVEL RESTRICTION(S)
  • [DESCEND VIA STAR TO (level)], CANCEL LEVEL RESTRICTION(S) AT (point(s))
  • [DESCEND VIA STAR TO (level)], CANCEL SPEED RESTRICTION(S)
  • [DESCEND VIA STAR TO (level)], CANCEL SPEED RESTRICTION(S) AT (point(s))
  • DESCEND UNRESTRICTED TO (level) or DESCEND TO (level), CANCEL LEVEL AND SPEED RESTRICTIONS

Holding Clearance

ATC Clearance for Holding:

  • CLEARED (or PROCEED) TO (significant point, name of facility or fix) [MAINTAIN (or CLIMB or DESCEND TO) (level)] HOLD [(direction)] AS PUBLISHED EXPECT APPROACH CLEARANCE (or FURTHER CLEARANCE) AT (time)

Pilot Requests Holding Instructions:

  • REQUEST HOLDING INSTRUCTIONS

ATC Clearance for a Detailed Holding Pattern:

  • CLEARED (or PROCEED) TO (significant point, name of facility or fix) [MAINTAIN (or CLIMB or DESCEND TO) (level)] HOLD [(direction)] [(specified) RADIAL, COURSE, INBOUND TRACK (three digits) DEGREES] [RIGHT (or LEFT) HAND PATTERN] [OUTBOUND TIME (number) MINUTES] EXPECT APPROACH CLEARANCE (or FURTHER CLEARANCE) AT (time) (additional instructions, if necessary)
  • CLEARED TO THE (three digits) RADIAL OF THE (name) VOR AT (distance) DME FIX [MAINTAIN (or CLIMB or DESCEND TO) (level)] HOLD [(direction)] [RIGHT (or LEFT) HAND PATTERN] [OUTBOUND TIME (number) MINUTES] EXPECT APPROACH CLEARANCE (or FURTHER CLEARANCE) AT (time) (additional instructions, if necessary)
  • CLEARED TO THE (three digits) RADIAL OF THE (name) VOR AT (distance) DME FIX [MAINTAIN (or CLIMB or DESCEND TO) (level)] HOLD BETWEEN (distance) AND (distance) DME [RIGHT (or LEFT) HAND PATTERN] EXPECT APPROACH CLEARANCE (or FURTHER CLEARANCE) AT (time) (additional instructions, if necessary)

ATC Instruction for Visual Holding:

  • HOLD VISUAL [OVER] (position), (or BETWEEN (two prominent landmarks))

Expected Approach Time

ATC Expected Approach Time Instructions:

  • EXPECTED APPROACH TIME (time)
  • REVISED EXPECTED APPROACH TIME (time)
  • DELAY NOT DETERMINED (reasons)
  • NO DELAY EXPECTED

Approach Instructions

ATC Clearance for STAR or Arrival Procedure:

  • CLEARED (designation) ARRIVAL
  • CLEARED TO (clearance limit) (designation)
  • CLEARED (or PROCEED) (details of route to be followed)

ATC Clearance to Proceed Direct with Advance Notice to Rejoin STAR:

  • CLEARED DIRECT (waypoint), DESCEND TO (level), EXPECT TO REJOIN STAR [(STAR designator)] AT (waypoint), then REJOIN STAR [(STAR designator)] [AT (waypoint)]
  • CLEARED DIRECT (waypoint), DESCEND TO (level), then REJOIN STAR (STAR designator) AT (waypoint)

ATC Vectoring for Approach

ATC Instructions for Vectoring to Final:

  • VECTORING FOR (type of pilot-interpreted aid) APPROACH RUNWAY (number)
  • VECTORING FOR VISUAL APPROACH RUNWAY (number) REPORT FIELD (or RUNWAY) IN SIGHT
  • VECTORING FOR (positioning in the circuit)
  • VECTORING FOR SURVEILLANCE RADAR APPROACH RUNWAY (number)
  • VECTORING FOR PRECISION APPROACH RUNWAY (number)

Pilot Requests for a Specific Approach

  • REQUEST (type of approach) APPROACH [RUNWAY (number)]
  • REQUEST (MLS/RNAV plain-language designator)
  • REQUEST STRAIGHT-IN [(type of approach)] APPROACH [RUNWAY (number)]
  • REQUEST VISUAL APPROACH

ATC Answers to Pilot Approach Requests

  • CLEARED VISUAL APPROACH RUNWAY (number)
  • (type) APPROACH NOT AVAILABLE DUE (reason) (alternative instructions).

ATC Instructions for Tracking and Interception

  • INTERCEPT (localizer course or radio aid) [REPORT ESTABLISHED]
  • YOU WILL INTERCEPT (radio aid or track) (distance) FROM (significant point or TOUCHDOWN)
  • EXPECT VECTOR ACROSS (localizer course or radio aid) (reason)
  • THIS TURN WILL TAKE YOU THROUGH (localizer course or radio aid) [reason]
  • TAKING YOU THROUGH (localizer course or radio aid) [reason]
  • MAINTAIN (altitude) UNTIL GLIDE PATH INTERCEPTION

ATC Clearance for IFR Approach

  • CLEARED (type of approach) APPROACH [RUNWAY (number)]
  • CLEARED (type of approach) RUNWAY (number) FOLLOWED BY CIRCLING TO RUNWAY (number)
  • CLEARED APPROACH [RUNWAY (number)]
  • COMMENCE APPROACH AT (time)
  • CLEARED STRAIGHT-IN [(type of approach)] APPROACH [RUNWAY (number)]
  • CLEARED (MLS/RNAV plain-language designator)

ATC Position Reporting Instructions

  • REPORT RUNWAY [LIGHTS] IN SIGHT
  • REPORT (significant point) [OUTBOUND, or INBOUND]
  • REPORT COMMENCING PROCEDURE TURN
  • REPORT ESTABLISHED ON [ILS] LOCALIZER (or ON GBAS/SBAS/MLS APPROACH COURSE)
  • REPORT ESTABLISHED ON GLIDE PATH

ATC Instructions for Visual Approach

  • ADVISE ABLE TO ACCEPT VISUAL APPROACH RUNWAY (number)
  • CLEARED VISUAL APPROACH RUNWAY (number), MAINTAIN OWN SEPARATION FROM PRECEDING (aircraft type and wake turbulence category as appropriate) [CAUTION WAKE TURBULENCE]

ATC Instructions for Visual Separation

  • MAINTAIN OWN SEPARATION
  • MAINTAIN VMC
  • REPORT VISUAL

ATC Instructions to Verify Pilot Familiarity with Procedures

  • ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH (name) APPROACH PROCEDURE

Pilot Requests for Special Approach Conditions

  • REQUEST VMC DESCENT
  • REQUEST (distance) FINAL

ATC Instructions for Parallel Approach and Avoidance Action

  • CLEARED FOR (type of approach) APPROACH RUNWAY (number) LEFT (or RIGHT)
  • YOU HAVE CROSSED THE LOCALIZER (or GBAS/SBAS/MLS FINAL APPROACH COURSE). TURN LEFT (or RIGHT) IMMEDIATELY AND RETURN TO THE LOCALIZER (or GBAS/SBAS/MLS FINAL APPROACH COURSE)
  • ILS (or MLS) RUNWAY (number) LEFT (or RIGHT) LOCALIZER (or MLS) FREQUENCY IS (frequency)

ATC Instructions for Avoidance Action in NTZ (No Transgression Zone)

  • TURN LEFT (or RIGHT) (number) DEGREES (or HEADING) (three digits) IMMEDIATELY TO AVOID TRAFFIC [DEVIATING FROM ADJACENT APPROACH], CLIMB TO (altitude)

ATC Instructions for Avoidance Action Below 120m (400ft) on PAOAS Criteria

  • CLIMB TO (altitude) IMMEDIATELY TO AVOID TRAFFIC [DEVIATING FROM ADJACENT APPROACH] (further instructions)

ATC Instructions for Approach Corrections and Off-Track Adjustments

  • COMMENCE DESCENT NOW [TO MAINTAIN A (number) DEGREE GLIDE PATH]
  • (distance) FROM TOUCHDOWN ALTITUDE (or HEIGHT) SHOULD BE (numbers and units)

ATC Instructions for Completion of an Approach

  • REPORT VISUAL
  • REPORT RUNWAY [LIGHTS] IN SIGHT
  • APPROACH COMPLETED [CONTACT (unit)]
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