Towered Field Ops

Thursday, May 21, 2020 at 12:09 PM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Effective pilot-controller communication is crucial to mitigate risks from non-standard instructions and expectation bias, requiring pilots to clarify unclear commands and understand informal phraseology.
Strict adherence to runway safety procedures, including complete runway exits past the hold-short line, accurate readbacks, and proper ground control contact, is vital to prevent accidents.
Pilots can waive wake turbulence separation in specific situations (e.g., non-heavy aircraft, certain intersection departures) but must prioritize safety, exercise extreme caution, and be prepared to decline clearances if uncomfortable or unable.

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It’s Saturday morning at 0730. Weather is VFR and a million, and most of the flight schools and weekend warriors are calling up Ground with the ATIS, ready to go. Add student pilots, crosswinds, a runway closure and more. What are the chances of pilots missing something critical or letting expectation bias hit? That risk is not just for the pilots, it is also shared by controllers as well.

Non-Standard Instructions

Any pilot operating in a towered environment should know the basics on where things are. “Enter left downwind” or “Turn crosswind” or perhaps “Report a four-mile final, Runway 18.” Believe it or not, a lot of pilots reply sounding confused when told to go to a certain point.