On the Beat

If the airport requires a call to Clearance Delivery for an IFR clearance or VFR departure, you neednt wait until you call Ground for taxi. Just tell CD. After the controller verifies your clearance readback, tell her, Ill be requesting Runway 9. Youve now informed a member of the tower team. They can let you know about any possible issues regarding that runway. Also, when you call for taxi, Ground should be aware of your needs.

tkarmer

Wednesday, June 08, 2016 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Pilots should provide timely and proactive communication regarding any special requests, such as a different runway for departure or arrival, to the relevant air traffic control (ATC) sector as early as possible to avoid surprises and facilitate efficient planning.
When making runway requests, inform Clearance Delivery or Approach initially, restate the request to Ground, and be prepared for potential coordination efforts or advise ATC of any needed delay.
Always report having the current ATIS information upon initial contact with the appropriate ATC facility, adapting the timing based on departure, arrival at a dedicated TRACON, or arrival under a large Center/consolidated TRACON's jurisdiction.

See a mistake? Contact us.

Working as an air traffic controller has been likened to being a symphony conductor. Sure, it’s perhaps a cheesy, overblown analogy, but there’s some truth to it.

An orchestra has many elements: the strings, the brass, the woodwinds, and the percussion. All players, from the violinists to the French horn players, are responsible for intimately knowing their instrument, just as pilots know their individual aircraft. However, it’s the conductor who ensures they all fall in sync with one another.