cleared for immediate t/off??

Flying_Corporal

Flying_Corporal

New Member
At a busy airport the controller says:

"N123, Learjet traffic on a X miles final, cleared for immediate takeoff".

Is it more prudent to decline or to accept it? I know it depends a lot on X (distance).

I've seen many airliners decline that where in similar situations corporate jets accept it.
 
My thought is, if you're not ready for takeoff, why are you in position on the active runway? I won't enter the runway unless I'm ready to go. I'm not going to taxi into position and hold and then tell them "sorry I'm not ready."
 
[ QUOTE ]
My thought is, if you're not ready for takeoff, why are you in position on the active runway?

[/ QUOTE ]

You're not. You're holding short.
 
It depends if you're completely ready or not. If yes, then go. If not, then don't. If you're uncomfortable with it, then don't- controllers can't force you to accept a clearance. Its really pretty simple.
 
I misunderstood your original situation. If I was holding short and was not ready, then I would decline. But I also would not call up the tower until I was ready to go unless they called me.
 
[ QUOTE ]
It depends if you're completely ready or not. If yes, then go. If not, then don't. If you're uncomfortable with it, then don't- controllers can't force you to accept a clearance.

[/ QUOTE ]
Completely agree. I was down at VRB once and had just completed my run-up and was holding short.

I heard an aircraft on final who was cleared to land when Tower came on and said "Cherokee 1234C, you are cleared for immediate takeoff."

I was ready to fly, but I just didn't feel comfortable with the aircraft on final, so I declined and waited until that aircraft had landed and was in my view rather than barrelling down the glideslope on my six.

It's up to you. Nobody can MAKE you fly.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I've seen many airliners decline that where in similar situations corporate jets accept it.

[/ QUOTE ]

I think it might have to do with some of the checklists that airlines use once they are on the runway and lined up. I know once Spirit gets t/o clearance and taxis into position, it takes them FOREVER to start the roll. I've seen several go-arounds b/c of this.
 
Just say 'unable'.

Not the exact situation, but similar:

I remember in Vegas I was holding in position ready to go, well a 737 just took off on the far intersecting runway (leaving it's wake right over my flight path). Got cleared for takeoff right after... told them unable for wake turbulence, I'd wait 2 minutes and offered to exit the runway, they said I could just wait in position; everything went just fine.
 
[ QUOTE ]
they said I could just wait in position; everything went just fine.

[/ QUOTE ]

Argh, I hate that. Nothing makes me more antsy in flying than being in position for a long time.
 
Try flying a 172 in wake turbulence. That'll make you antsy.
wink.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
they said I could just wait in position; everything went just fine.

[/ QUOTE ]

Argh, I hate that. Nothing makes me more antsy in flying than being in position for a long time.

[/ QUOTE ]

Only thing about that is at night. Shades of the aftermath pics of US Air 1493 and Skywest 5569.
 
[ QUOTE ]
At a busy airport the controller says:

"N123, Learjet traffic on a X miles final, cleared for immediate takeoff".

Is it more prudent to decline or to accept it? I know it depends a lot on X (distance).

I've seen many airliners decline that where in similar situations corporate jets accept it.

[/ QUOTE ]

This type of clearance puts the ball in the pilot's court. It alerts you to a tight traffic situation and basically is saying, "either take it out quick or forget it".

Main consideration for me is making it comfortable for pax. Boosting the pow
cool.gif
er up and making a high G turn onto the runway centerline isn't cool.
 
I flew down to MSP on my first IFR cross country. When we were leaving it was in the middle of rush hour. I was cleared for immediate in front of an A320 on final. I did my best to get it onto the runway as fast as I can, but as soon as I got on the runway and was about to get lined up tower changed their mind and had me taxi off on the other side. Was pretty amusing at the time. I think he forgot that we were gonna take a little bit longer to get out of the way than do the airplanes he's used to controlling ;-)
 
Was at ORD the other day, and tower cleared United for immediate while I was on 1.5 mi final. He didn't seem to want to move too quickly once he took the runway, so we had to "pitch up, power up, clean up, talk up." Things started to get very busy with an Embraer turning in front of us, same altitude, <1 mile ahead. I had to maintain visual sep, expect a TCAS RA, and hand fly the climbing turn. Got that thing on autopilot after things settled down, and came around for another try. Tower wanted to try another immediate before our arrival, but remembered our first go around and ensured our arrival. I'll bet the pax hardly even noticed
spin2.gif
 
I have excepted that clearance many times in the 121 environment. To take it or not depends where you are at in the checklist and what is going on in the cabin...

If you are ready to go then there is no problem in accepting...

I have also seen a few go arounds caused by controllers cutting it way to close. I was # 3 in the line when controllers told an RJ position and Hold with a Mad Dog on about a 3 mile final... Next you hear the controller telling the RJ to clear the runway and the Mad Dog was going around. It didn't look pretty for either plane.
shocked.gif
 
Here in Salina awhile back I remember hearing a Citation on about a 1.5-2.0 mile final with a King Air holding short, ready for an intersection departure midfield. Tower asked the KA if he could take an immediate departure, to which the Citation replied "NO". I'm sure the KA could have made it, considering our runway is (was) 13,337 feet long and he would have been departing 1/2 way down.
 
Hum, well today I was cleared for take off while the aircraft taking off in frount of me hadn't rotated yet, I was a bit suprised but they cancled it once they realised their mistake. Good thing I was doing a brakes on takeoff roll or I would have been going down the runway already.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Hum, well today I was cleared for take off while the aircraft taking off in frount of me hadn't rotated yet, I was a bit suprised but they cancled it once they realised their mistake. Good thing I was doing a brakes on takeoff roll or I would have been going down the runway already.

[/ QUOTE ]

Being military, we regularly have to watch out for that kind of stuff at civil fields, since we often have planes taking off and landing at the same time on the same runway, or even landing at the same time with 3000-6000 foot separation, depending on aircraft type.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top