Line up and Wait

[Michael Natale]

For those interested;

According to the FAA, Begining 1 Oct 2010 ATC will now issue the following phraseology; "Line up and Wait" in place of 'Position and Hold". Seems simple enough.It actually removes any ambiguity that has led to numerous runway incursion problems apparently. Attached is the FAA Doc with further explanation in case you are interested. There is also info on VATSIM explaining the change. Safe Flying and hope to see you on VATSIM!

http://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/medi ... 10.536.pdf

Mike Natale
AAV1094

[Norberto Rivera]

Sounds too much like the story of my life: "Hurry up and wait."

[Greg Gemelli]

This transition has been ongoing for over a year now in stages. Recently they changed the way taxi instructions are issued when crossing another runway. Now the runway must be identified and a clearance to cross issued and read back. Before it was not required to include intermediate runways unless a hold short clearance was issued. The biggest change to safety in the airline environment is the installation of ASDE-X at most of the nations busier airports. Testing has also been going well with a transponder aware lighting system in KSAN that will hopefully get full approval soon. The biggest safety enhancement would be the implementation of ADS-B but that costs lots of $$$ so you can guess where that is on the priority list lol. Finally as much as simpler more standardized phraseology is a good thing it does nothing if it's not consistent. Now phraseology is usually pretty much followed but a good example of a change for the worse is the handling of RNAV arrivals and departures. They are designed to be flown as published. Pilots expect to fly them as published but more times than not we get amended instructions which equates to complications and occasional deviations.

[Michael Natale]

It's pretty straight forward. When you receive a "Taix To"directive from ground they will now include a clearance to cross any runway between your origin (on airport) and your departure runway. Once your are at the hold short point for your departure runway switch over to tower (if available) and advise that you are IFR to IACO ready for release etc. They may at that point direct you to "line up and wait". That is permission to taxi onto the active, and line up for departure and wait for your release (clearance to take off). e.g

American XXXX taxi to runway 5L, clear to cross 23 hold short 5L.

If you do not hear express permission to taxi across any runway in between your origin and the departure runway, query the controller. This is a new policy and they are getting used to it too, even in the real world. They are still used to giving you taxi to" instructions which means you are clear to cross all runways to your departure runway except any active runway.

You may hear this after your intial taxi direction;

American xxxx line up and wait (assigned departure runway), arriving aircraft is a Baron on short final 5R.

That means you may line up on the departure runway, but you may not depart until advisewd by tower, formerly known as taxi into position and hold.


Don't be afraid to ask questions of the controller. They want you to get it right too. This is a new program domestically; it has been in use internationaly for some time now. Habits are difficult to break. The bottom line is that you should never taxi across or onto any runway without express permission. Once you do it a few times you will get the hang of it. I think you will find it pretty logical actually.



Safe flying