Line up and wait, cleared for takeoff, cleared to land

Before you move

Call Ground (or Clearance Delivery) for taxi before starting to move on the movement area; state your position on the airport. [AIM 4-3-14 a, 4-3-18 a 1]

The taxi instruction

“Runway (number), taxi via (route)”, with hold-short instructions where you must stop. ATC never says “cleared” for a taxi. Read back the runway and any hold short. [JO 7110.65 3-7-2; AIM 4-3-18 a 9]

Crossing a runway

Needs an explicit “cross runway (number)”. Absence of holding instructions authorises crossing taxiways only. [AIM 4-3-18 a 5; JO 7110.65 3-7-2]

Ready

Switch to Tower when ready for takeoff (stay on Ground until then). Turbine aircraft are assumed ready at the runway. [AIM 4-3-14 a, b]

Line up and wait

“Runway (number), line up and wait” — onto the runway, not a takeoff clearance. Read it back. [P/CG; JO 7110.65 3-9-4]

Takeoff

“Runway (number), cleared for takeoff.” Runway first, then the clearance; read back both. [JO 7110.65 3-9-10]

Landing

“Runway (number), cleared to land”; “cleared for the option” lets you choose touch-and-go, stop-and-go, low approach or full stop. [JO 7110.65 3-10-5; P/CG]

After landing

Exit at the first available taxiway or as told; taxi clear past the hold-position markings and hold; change to Ground only when the tower says. [AIM 4-3-21, 4-3-14 c]

Leaving the tower frequency

Once outside the Class D you do not need permission to leave the frequency, but staying on it for traffic is good practice. [AIM 4-3-2 a]

Runway two seven, taxi via Alpha, hold short of runway one eight, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.

Runway two seven, cleared for takeoff, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.

Acknowledge every call-up and clearance with your identification — at the start or the end — and one of the standard words. [AIM 4-2-3 c]

Wilco

Received, understood, will comply. [P/CG]

Roger

Received all of your last transmission. Never an answer to a yes/no question. [P/CG]

Affirmative / Negative

Yes / No. [P/CG]

Unable

Cannot comply with the instruction. Say what you can do instead. [P/CG]

Say again

Repeat — “say again all after (fix)”. [P/CG]

Stand by

A pause, not an approval or a denial. Call again if the wait is long. [P/CG]

What must be read back

Runway assignments

The runway, including left/right/center, in the first readback of a taxi, departure or landing clearance. [AIM 4-4-7 b 4]

Hold-short instructions

Word for word. ATC is required to obtain this readback. [AIM 4-3-18 a 9, 10]

Any clearance to enter a runway

Line up and wait, cross runway (number), cleared for takeoff. [AIM 4-3-18 a 9]

Altitudes, vectors, altitude restrictions

In the sequence given, with your identification. [AIM 4-4-7 b 2]

Squawk codes and frequency changes

Read back the code; acknowledge the frequency. [AIM 4-2-3 d]

Not read back

Wind, traffic information, weather — acknowledged, never required.

November Five Charlie Tango, roger, cleared to land runway nine left.

Runway three six left, taxi via Alpha, hold short of taxiway Charlie, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.