FlyCRJ.com

You might not have heard, but on June 30, 2010, air traffic controllers (ATC), specifically ground controllers and tower controllers, are now required to issue specific runway crossing instructions for each runway to be crossed.

In the past, ground controllers would say, “Taxi to runway 35R via (taxiway) Golf and Echo.” In the past, this meant that you could cross ALL intersecting runways on your way to the departure runway unless stated otherwise.

The new phraseology though now starts with the runway you are going to taxi to and then the specific route they want you take will be stated along with any runway crossings or hold short instructions.

Here is an example, “SkyWest 1234, Runway 35R, taxi via Golf and Echo, cross Runway 12, hold short Runway 35L.”

Do you see the difference? The runway you are ultimately going to taxi to is the first thing stated after your callsign.

Furthermore, let’s say you will have to cross multiple runway intersections, the ground controller will stagger the crossing clearances so that you you can more clearly understand the clearance. Using our example above, the ground controller would not have you cross Runway 12 and Runway 35L, in the same clearance. As always, there is an exception. If say there are two parallel runways, and their centerlines are less than 1,000 feet apart, the controllers may clear you to cross both runways in the same clearance. Don’t forget to read back the hold short instructions!

I think that this is a good step forward in reducing runway incursions. It makes it more like a progressive taxi clearance rather than a long, sometimes confusing clearance. You can read even more about these new taxi procedures on the AOPA website.

In my taxi experience, I’ve gotten confused often when I was issued a long taxi clearance. At some point you forget what you were issued and then you are scratching your head wondering if you were cleared to cross a runway or not, turn, etc. So this will help tremendously and I’ve already seen it in use in KLAX and KMSP with great success.

Here are a few more helpful tips though:

1. Always write down the clearance – I have bad short-term memory when it comes to clearances. I think it is basically because there is so much going on that my brain just can’t hold a clearance in my head. Writing it down really helps.
2. Always read back the clearance verbatim – I expect my first officers to read back the clearances exactly like the controller issued it, then write it down. I then say out loud the clearance that the first officer just read back to the ground controller. I make a game of it and so far it hasn’t failed me yet. This raises the taxi clearance to a higher priority in my mind.
3. Review your airport diagram – Right after I read back the clearance and before I taxi, even at an airport I’ve flown through a 100 times, I still look at my airport diagram and make sure I COMPLETELY understand the clearance before I release the parking brake.
4. Ask for progressive taxi instructions – There is no shame in asking for progressive taxi instructions. Remember, it is your certificate that is on the line. If you get confused or disoriented about a taxi instruction, stop, ask for clarification, and/or progressive taxi instructions, especially at new, unfamiliar, complicated airports.
5. Brief the route – In airports like KMSP and KORD, there can be many routes to a runway or gate. I always talk about all the possible routes to my first officer before we taxi. It really helps take the guess work out of it and helps develop more of a mental picture so that there are no surprises.

So I think from a safety perspective, this new phraseology will really help, especially if pilots embrace it and work with ATC.

Remember, it is not a race to see who can get to the runway first. Take your time, know where you are going, and enjoy the ride.

To Your Flying Success,

Jeffrey

P.S. If you like this post, please consider sharing it with another pilot and/or making a comment below.

Be Sociable, Share!

•