I had a question regarding take off clearance when there are two taxiway's approaching a runway. Generally I'm always tuned into groud frequency till the hold short line and then I tell the tower that I'm ready to go. But what if in a scenario there are 3 planes ahead of me in a line and 3 planes in a line on the other taxiway for the same runway, can you contact tower earlier(Before you get to the hold short line) to be put in sequence. I've heard little bit about it, but never really knew the correct procedure to follow. Would the tower who to give permission first, or is there any procedure to let the tower know
Take off Clearance Question
- Thread starter rajsingh
- Start date
Clocks
Well-Known Member
if I got tot he runway and I was #1 on my side, and there were 3 planes on the other side of the runway, I would tell tower I was ready to go.
They might be holding the planes on the other side intentionally, or there might be someone behind you, etc.
If tower really wants to get you out quick, they'll probably be asking for you as you taxi to the end, or ground will tell you to call tower.
They might be holding the planes on the other side intentionally, or there might be someone behind you, etc.
If tower really wants to get you out quick, they'll probably be asking for you as you taxi to the end, or ground will tell you to call tower.
BobDDuck
Island Bus Driver
The tower will normally just clear whomever got there first clearance to go. There are exceptions to this such as IFR departure slots and what not.
Mostly I switch over to tower (well, have the FO do it) as soon as there is no more logical reason ground would tell us to hold short somewhere.
At really busy airports there are normally procedures in place. For example, at LGA, ground will sequence traffic into the merge for Runway 31 and then tell you to monitor tower. When Philly is on a West flow ground will tell you to monitor tower after crossing the parallel runway and then tower has to work out the 5 taxiway merge that ends at the top end of 27L.
Mostly I switch over to tower (well, have the FO do it) as soon as there is no more logical reason ground would tell us to hold short somewhere.
At really busy airports there are normally procedures in place. For example, at LGA, ground will sequence traffic into the merge for Runway 31 and then tell you to monitor tower. When Philly is on a West flow ground will tell you to monitor tower after crossing the parallel runway and then tower has to work out the 5 taxiway merge that ends at the top end of 27L.
LawnGnome
Well-Known Member
You shouldn't change frequencies unless advised to by ATC. Tower generally has a sequence for you that ground control made. Sometimes the tower will alter that sequence as certain events take place, 99 times out of 100 they already know your departure slot and when they are ready for you they will get you going....if they put you in position or clear you and you come back and say you aren't ready then you will probably get resequenced somewhere else.
At my airport will tell turbine powered aircraft to monitor tower and piston aircraft if they won't be ready upon reaching to contact tower when ready.
Just do what the ground controller tells you to do. He should either say monitor tower or contact tower when ready or something like that. Stick with that and you will be okay.
Cptnchia
Dissatisfied Customer
Or just change freqs when you pass the sign that tells you to monitor tower. (Yeah, I know, not all airports have them.)
Clocks
Well-Known Member
That's wrong. Maybe you're outlining the specific procedure at your airport, but you don't sit on ground until instructed to call tower by default.
As Bob said some airports have specific procedures...'do not change to tower until instructed by ground' or some such. Otherwise you switch to tower and call them whenever you're ready.
BobDDuck
Island Bus Driver
Well, in theory yes but just running over my last trip...
Dayton told me to taxi to 24R via Alpha... nothing said about changing to tower.
Charlotte told me to taxi to 18C via Echo. Nothing said about tower.
Columbia told me to taxi to 11 via Alpha and never said anything about contacting tower.
Philly told me to monitor tower after crossing 27R.
1 out of 4 ain't bad I guess.
Cptnchia
Dissatisfied Customer
Actually had an LCA I was flying with ask me this question last month. According to him, you switch to tower when either:
1. You are told to do so.
2. There is a sign on the taxiway telling you to do so. (taxing out in LAS for 25R)
3. You pass the last intersection for the runway or a taxiway. ie THere is nowhere else to go but to the end. No place to tell you to hold short of.
C150J
Well-Known Member
You could be technically correct or correct about your specific airport, but at SOME (certainly not all) major airports and a majority of outstations in the Northeastern corridor, you will get a surly, crass response insinuating that you're an idiot for not figuring out when to switch over. In fact, I'd say that I've heard controllers be more rude about such inquiries than tower controllers telling aircraft to go BACK to ground that already intuitively switched over.
The only airport I've ever operated out of that specifically orders people to stay on ground until advised is KMKE, and it's on their D-ATIS.
Again, I trust your post. Just sharing my experience.
flyinawa
Well-Known Member
I'd say you hit the nail on the head with this list. I might add...
If I'm ready for take-off and there is a group of aircraft gathered around the end of the runway, some ready for take off, some not..AND/OR..there are aircraft on the other side of the runway, I'd advise the tower, "(CALLSIGN), ready for departure in sequence". That tells them to add me to the queue. Also, if I'm alone at the departure end and tower doesn't clear me, by saying I'm ready "in sequence" I don't feel like an idiot if they say, "Yes, continue holding short, traffic on close in base".
Food for thought: I don't like to use the word "take-off" until I'm cleared for it. Old habit from flying in a wildly busy, non-radar environment.
bdhill1979
Gone West
on a related note, a pet peeve.
When you are NOT number 1 in line you are NOT ready to go, there is an airplane in front of you. Please stop stepping on my calls when I really am ready to go.
"Tower, Katana ...........................................1234, holding short ready to depart, I'm a ................................................................south....... bound departure, and I have information......................................................................................Tango."
/pet peeve
When you are NOT number 1 in line you are NOT ready to go, there is an airplane in front of you. Please stop stepping on my calls when I really am ready to go.
"Tower, Katana ...........................................1234, holding short ready to depart, I'm a ................................................................south....... bound departure, and I have information......................................................................................Tango."
/pet peeve
C150J
Well-Known Member
Thanks Larry. Looks like you should switch over when ready (as many here have stated), although local procedures seem to prevail at most locations. I really like Chia's list.
flyinawa
Well-Known Member
Point of clarification:
When I am number 25 in line in JFK, ORD, MIA, any busy airport where the line-up is fixed, I don't call. You don't need to. When I was the 7th Cessna in group of 15 jammed into a run-up area, we had to call when we were ready because they would basically sequence you out from there. No way to get into a "line-up" short of the runway in that sort of a jammed up area. It was my pet peeve getting stuck in a ramp with guys who showed up about 5 aircraft after me getting cleared for t/o ahead of me.
So...at an airport where you can get into a line-up for departure and all departures are occurring from that line up...don't call "Ready for departure". bdhill...good point. If you're ready to go and there is come question about who is or isn't ready and there are multiple a/c holding short, a "ready for departure" call isn't bad unless, as bdhill suggests, the frequency is mobbed in which case...don't.
BajtheJino
I'm looking at you.
Pet peeve of mine-121 guys saying their ready in sequence. Hey, guess what, no one cares. If your in line youre not going anywhere and by the time youre numba won you should be ready.
b. The tower controller will consider that pilots of turbine-powered aircraft are ready for takeoff when they reach the runway or warm-up block unless advised otherwise.
b. The tower controller will consider that pilots of turbine-powered aircraft are ready for takeoff when they reach the runway or warm-up block unless advised otherwise.
Cptnchia
Dissatisfied Customer
My pet peeve was with captains who would tell me to "Tell the tower we're ready," when someone was on short final. I usually would just say, "How about once this guy lands." Even before the guy touches down, we would be CIPH. I had one start yelling at me about insubordination when I pointed out the tower would tell us to hold short anyway and he knew we would be ready. So I called and guess what? "Hold short, landing traffic. I know you're ready," was what he said.
C150J
Well-Known Member
I bet you filed that one away under "how NOT to be a Captain." I've been lucky, but have a few gems in that file folder.
Cptnchia
Dissatisfied Customer
Exactly. In his defense, he was an alright guy usually, just that he had been JM'd by scheduling and was having a bad day. He did apologize, and I did hear him defending me later to a total POS captain that I told to just do everyone a favor and quit.
I have no idea how technically correct it is, but from my viewpoint (a tower controller) that list is excellent.
mtsu_av8er
Well-Known Member
I'M A 121 GUY, AND i HATE IT WHEN i FLY WITH THOSE TOOLS!
(As we taxi up to the hold-short in San Antonio)
Cap: "Let them know we're #1 and ready"
Me: "Yes, Captain" (Thinking to myself, 'what a fricking idiot . . . ).
*Note, for those that don't know: If I call the Captain "Captain", I'm making fun of him and his mother. If I call him "Sir" or "Skipper", I'm being respectful.
Most of them aren't even able to pick up on it.
