Airports with ASDE-X

[troopernflight]

I was a little confused about something from the other day when flying into CLT. (In a C172, so I'm not sure if this affected anything). When I called for taxi from Wilson Air, I was advised "Taxiway Delta, advise when holding short number one". I took this as taxi to and hold short of runway 36R and make a call when number one for takeoff. We were about to taxi onto D and I told my student to stop so I could clarify if he meant to hold short of D or to taxi on D and hold short 36R. He then said "taxi to 36R on Delta". About half way up to 36R he asked if we had completed run up, in which I advised we had. All he said was "I appreciate it", no switch to tower or anything. Then we went ahead and switched to tower when approaching runway, and there were about 15 airliners lined up on the taxiway opposite 36R. My student asked if he should advise holding short, and I told him to keep his mouth shut because they could see us on ASDE and they were incredibly busy. And about 5 minutes later out of the blue they told us to line up and wait, and then clear us for takeoff. My question is, what did the first ground controller most likely want us to do? And were we correct in just monitoring tower and assuming they knew we were there? It went smooth and there weren't any problems, but is there some standard procedure with the ASDE-X that I need to know about for future? I want to help the contollers out and keep it running smooth.

 

[Deleted member 27505]

I was a little confused about something from the other day when flying into CLT. (In a C172, so I'm not sure if this affected anything). When I called for taxi from Wilson Air, I was advised "Taxiway Delta, advise when holding short number one". I took this as taxi to and hold short of runway 36R and make a call when number one for takeoff. We were about to taxi onto D and I told my student to stop so I could clarify if he meant to hold short of D or to taxi on D and hold short 36R. He then said "taxi to 36R on Delta". About half way up to 36R he asked if we had completed run up, in which I advised we had. All he said was "I appreciate it", no switch to tower or anything. Then we went ahead and switched to tower when approaching runway, and there were about 15 airliners lined up on the taxiway opposite 36R. My student asked if he should advise holding short, and I told him to keep his mouth shut because they could see us on ASDE and they were incredibly busy. And about 5 minutes later out of the blue they told us to line up and wait, and then clear us for takeoff. My question is, what did the first ground controller most likely want us to do? And were we correct in just monitoring tower and assuming they knew we were there? It went smooth and there weren't any problems, but is there some standard procedure with the ASDE-X that I need to know about for future? I want to help the contollers out and keep it running smooth.

He wanted to take his electronic fly swatter and swat you off his screen. He's a jetzzz controller, biaatch.

 

[fiveninerzero]

I'm not a controller, but it sounds like, from the instruction, that he wanted you to let him know that you were holding short of the runway for the handoff.

 

[RetiredATLATC]

At a lot of major airports there will be signage telling you to "monitor 123.85" as you're taxiing towards the runway. Did CLT have that? I can't remember from my time there, however I know ATL uses this method. My retired opinion is, if there's no sign then wait to be told to go to local, if there is a sign follow the instructions. Either way, ground probaby tried to switch you, you weren't there and he figured you switched.

 

[Stinger]

When you're at or near the end of the runway, you should just switch to tower. You can either tell tower that you're ready for takeoff, or wait like in your scenario. It is assumed that jets and turboprops are ready for takeoff when they are at the end. Pistons, I usually wait for them to tell me when they're ready to go. If it's been a while and they haven't checked on, I'll ask if they're on frequency and ready to depart.

But you should not need to be switched to the tower controller, that is a frequency change you should make on your own.

 

[troopernflight]

Thanks for the replies. The phraseology that was used was not exactly standard for the initial taxi instruction, and I just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing something. Sounds like we did everything correctly, but I would rather ask for clarification then do something and get slapped for it after. A80TRACON, it did not have that sign, but I did wait until we were to the runway before switching. Stinger, that's what I figured, thanks for the clarification. And Crop Duster, yes, I'm sure that's what most of them are thinking! I hate bringing a 172 into Class B, but I have to do what's on the course syllabus. It is good experience for the students though.

 

[csmith_txatc]

I can't vouch for what was said on that particular occasion, but the standard response to a GA aircraft calling for taxi at Wilson is..."expect Runway XX, advise number one holding short of Taxiway D." We do this due to the size and number of aircraft on the Wilson ramp since we don't know exactly where you are parked on the ramp and whether or not any other aircraft are ahead of you exiting the ramp. Once you tell us you are number one to exit the ramp we then give the taxi instructions. The controller probably questioned about the run up to make sure that the sequence he was planning was going to work. Since we work mostly jets, there are many wake turbulence issues to be considered with the wake turbulence re-categorization we have recently implemented. As far as the switch to tower frequency, some controllers assume you will do it on your own because they are used to the jets and turboprops doing that and it is certainly acceptable for a C172 to do that as well. I personally have no problem if you were to ask whether or not to switch, I usually try to include a "monitor tower 118.1 when you are ready" as you are taxiing out, but both tower and ground know where you are on the ASDE-X.