This section is dedicated to improving pilot and controller communication. 

Added 12-30-03

"I'm a pilot, I can be here".  This is a common phrase used when a person is on a taxiway or near a runway.  Unless a person has established two way communication with the tower, they should not be on a taxiway or runway.  Look at it from the aircrafts point of view.  You notice someone near the runway.  How do you know that that person should be there?  Is that person going to cross in front of your during a critical part of landing?

This is especially true during an emergency situation.  Last week we had an aircraft that was experiencing landing gear problems.  There were people and cars all over the ramp and near the taxiways (there were 4 cars that blocked Bravo taxiway near Arizona Aviation).  When you do this, you might hamper rescue crews or personnel that need to respond to the emergency. In addition, while the aircraft kept control during the gear up landing, it might just as well veered off the runway towards the ramp.  You might have become a part of the accident.  If you don't need to be there, please keep your distance and keep the taxiways open.

Added 11-25-03

When a controllers issues instructions, many times the pilots don't understand what we mean, or what we are going to do.

When we issue any instructions that have a runway mentioned, the pilot must read back that instruction exactly

example: Controller "Cessna 11Alpha taxi to runway 4 Right"

               Pilot "Cessna 11 Alpha taxi to runway 4 Right"

Failure to read back the instructions will require the controller to obtain it from you.  This wastes valuable air time that the controller can use to assist other users. This read back is especially important if it involves a hold short instruction.  We must insure that the aircraft will not cross the hold bars without approval.

In recent years, controllers have been required to give advisories when they issue a landing in conjunction with taxi into position and hold clearances. So when we give you a landing clearance, we might also add that "traffic will be holding in position prior to your arrival".  This does not mean that you should head directly towards the runway.  By doing so you may decrease the required separation to the point that you will go around. 

example: Controller " Cherokee 22 Bravo, Runway 4 Right cleared to land, traffic holding in position".

              Pilot "Cherokee 22 Bravo, Runway 4 Right cleared to land".  You are not required to acknowledge the traffic holding.

The same is require when you are put into position, we must issue traffic that has been issued a landing clearance, including their type and position.

example: Controller "Bellanca 33 Charlie, runway 4 right, position and hold, traffic a Cessna on left base (mileage may be substituted - traffic on a 2 mile base)".