Taxi instructions during landing roll-out

Websterpilot

Well-Known Member
I often get taxi instructions during my landing roll-out and am asked to monitor ground at my home field when traffic is light. This is usually not a problem since I am familiar with the taxiways (2 maybe 3 turns to park) and tower knows where I am going. However, I have also received longer taxi instructions at airports that I am not familiar with when tower has assumed I'm heading to the GA ramp.

Short-term memory is not my strong suit and I often write down my taxi instructions. However, the landing roll-out is hardly the time to have my head inside the cockpit doing this. Would it be couth/proper to repeat the first turn off the runway and then ask the controller to repeat the clearance when clear of the runway?

Any advice and or personal preference?
 
Short-term memory is not my strong suit and I often write down my taxi instructions. However, the landing roll-out is hardly the time to have my head inside the cockpit doing this. Would it be couth/proper to repeat the first turn off the runway and then ask the controller to repeat the clearance when clear of the runway?

Any advice and or personal preference?

Your short term memory is likely not so short that you can't at least get the first one or two parts of the taxi instructions. So at least complying with those one or two initial parts, then asking for clarification for the rest, shouldn't be a problem; like the first turn or the first taxiway off the runway....you're clear of the runway, and its safe to get clarification.
 
Reason I say what I did, is because if ATC already starts talking, there's really no way to tell them "standby" (as opposed to if they asked you if you're ready to copy), so you're going to hear the instructions anyway....whether ready to copy them or not. At least get the first part that clears you from the runway, then ask for the rest. Truthfully, if the instructions are anything more than one or two things, its kind of poor form for ATC to "shotgun" them to you on rollout if you're not a locally based aircraft that they know; as chances are, you'll need them read again anyways. :)
 
Very true. That was my school of thought exactly Mike. I find myself more often than not, repeating the instructions without necessarily understanding where the heck I'm going. Then it dawns on me, I just told ATC that I fully understand and will comply. "So about those taxi instructions I just said I understood, uh what were they again? :eek:
 
Pet pieve of mine. I let em get through their spiel and then say standby. Once clear and all my duties are done, I then ask for the instructions. Those taxi instructions aren't necessary during the rollout, if they need a specific intersection tell/ask me on approach and give me the distance remaining if it is going to be tight, I can either accept or deny there, but telling me to make the left at C as I go racing by it only 1500 feet into my landing roll out ain't gonna help anyone.
 
Reason I say what I did, is because if ATC already starts talking, there's really no way to tell them "standby" (as opposed to if they asked you if you're ready to copy), so you're going to hear the instructions anyway....whether ready to copy them or not. At least get the first part that clears you from the runway, then ask for the rest. Truthfully, if the instructions are anything more than one or two things, its kind of poor form for ATC to "shotgun" them to you on rollout if you're not a locally based aircraft that they know; as chances are, you'll need them read again anyways. :)
Unless it's "right at bravo four, cross runway two six, bravo to the ramp with me." That's so simple even I can remember it. Anything more complicated will get a "standby".
 
Landing rollout? They can't talk to you during the roll out. If they do just ignore them. Take the first turnoff and then ask them to say again.

Are they actually disallowed, or is it that they shouldn't? I think some of it might be that you're familiar to them and they know that you know the field. Theres places where the controller knows my voice and he'll give me taxi instructions, along with the out bound clearance while im in my landing flare.
 
Sorry. I couldn't find any specific references. If I run across any I will post them. My personal opinion is that aircraft control on landing rollout overrides ATC communication. Always fly the airplane first.
 
I don't mind the instructions on the landing roll at the airports where the controllers and I are on a first name basis, but the instructions in the flare are a pain. :)
 
Back when I was a CFI, I had to tell the tower to stop doing this. Frequently a student, having just lowered the nose wheel to the pavement and now speeding merrily along at 50 knots, would hear the commanding voice of ATC in his headset and immediately remove both hands from the yoke and put his head down to his kneeboard to start copying instructions.
 
The best controllers/pilots understand that sometimes you gotta slow down in order to speed up. Wait a second and only have to talk to me once. Or try to rush and tell me twice, increasing the workload for yourself exponentially. I think all pilots should tour the tower and all tower controllers should backseat flight instructors with pre-solo students.
"Unable"
"Standby"
or
"Say again"
Ha! Whatever! ---> Slow to a safe taxi speed, take the first available taxiway or as instructed, then go: "Sorry, I was on a landline. Say again taxi instructions."
:-)
 
Usually the only time I get taxi instructions on the roll out if preceded with turn left next taxi way...just as I am about to take the turn. The rollout is complete and we are basically taxing at that point. not a big deal. Of course we are also two pilot opps and no doubt the tower takes that into account.
 
I'd much rather get a taxi instruction in the air, then say as im still speeding along and asked to take the taxi way that i just passed. I have no problem getting told in the air expect turn off at alpha, then on the ground thinking im going to go past alpha, then asked to take it.
 
I'd much rather get a taxi instruction in the air, then say as im still speeding along and asked to take the taxi way that i just passed. I have no problem getting told in the air expect turn off at alpha, then on the ground thinking im going to go past alpha, then asked to take it.

Ive only very rarely gotten told to make a specific turnoff while on rollout, even then its usually been one pretty far down. Though Im sure it happens in places from ATC. Often, it's just "exit when able......contact ground, etc"
 
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