Short Final: Giving Way

Image: Pedro Aragão - CC BY-SA 3.0/Wikimedia Commons
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • A small airport with mixed general aviation and airliner traffic prioritizes airliners for departures.
  • General aviation aircraft (Skyhawk 123) are instructed to taxi via specific taxiways (Alpha, Bravo) and hold short of the runway.
  • Airliners (Airliner 456) receive similar taxi instructions and are given priority, causing the general aviation aircraft to yield.
  • The communication highlights the potential for conflicts between airliner and general aviation traffic on a busy single-runway airport.
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Our local airport has one strip, one departure, and a mix of general aviation and airliner traffic. Airliners often have a fixed wheels-up time and Ground will prioritize their movement over the general aviation traffic. The commercial ramp is between the general aviation ramp and the approach end of the preferred runway. I heard the following exchange one day:

Skyhawk 123: “Ground, Skyhawk 123, tie-downs, taxi with Tango.”

Ground: “Skyhawk 123, taxi Alpha, Bravo, hold short 16.”

Skyhawk 123: “Alpha, Bravo, hold short 16, Skyhawk 123.”

A few minutes later:

Airliner 456: “Ground, Airliner 456, ready for taxi.”

Ground: “Airliner 456, taxi Hotel, Alpha, Bravo, hold short 16.”

Airliner 456: “Hotel, Alpha, Bravo, hold short 16, Airliner 456.”

Ground: “Skyhawk 123, give way to the Airbus 319 at Hotel.”

Skyhawk 123: “Giving way to the small French Twin, Skyhawk 123.”

Anonymous

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