VATUSA
Virtual Air Traffic Simulation - USA Division
Arrival Procedures
IFR Arrivals will be separated, sequenced, and cleared for approach by the Approach Control. Tower need only issue landing clearance. A landing clearance consists of the following information
- Runway in use (This needs to be stated only when multiple runways are in use)
- Wind (When applicable)
- Low level windshear advisories when available.
- Braking action reports when available and the braking action is reported as "POOR" or "NIL."
(wind and runway designator if applicable) CLEARED TO LAND"
Landing Clearance With Traffic On Final
Landing clearance to succeeding aircraft in a landing sequence need not be withheld if you observe the positions of the aircraft and determine that prescribed runway separation will exist when the aircraft cross the landing threshold. Issue traffic information to the succeeding aircraft if not previously reported and appropriate traffic holding in position or departing prior to their arrival. Here are three examples.
- "American Two Forty-Five cleared to land, number two following United Boeing Seven-Thirty-Seven two mile final, traffic will depart prior to your arrival."
- "American Two Forty-Five cleared to land, number two following United Boeing Seven-Thirty-Seven two mile final, traffic will be an MD 88 holding in position."
- "American Two Forty-Five cleared to land, following United Boeing Seven-Thirty-Seven two mile final, traffic will depart prior to your arrival."
Note - Landing sequence number is optional at tower facilities where arrivals are sequenced by the approach control.
Landing Clearance Without Visual Observation
When an arriving aircraft reports at a position where he/she should be seen but has not been visually observed, advise the aircraft as a part of the landing clearance that it is not in sight and restate the landing runway.
"NOT IN SIGHT, (wind and runway designator if applicable) CLEARED TO LAND"
Side-step Landing Clearances
Sometimes when a facility has parallel runways, such as inner and outer, a pilot may request to land on the opposite runway he or she is currently established on. This practice is known as a side-step landing and is usually requested to save taxi distance. If traffic permits and your local operating procedures approve the use of these landings, issue them in the following format.
"RUNWAY <designator> IN USE, (wind if applicable) RUNWAY <designator> CLEARED TO LAND"
Note - Notice the use of an advisory as to
1. which runway is in use,
2. a repeat of the winds information, and
3. clearance to land on the alternate runway
Missed Approach / Go Around Procedures
A pilot on an IFR flight plan making an instrument approach may execute a missed approach if they are unable to safely descend to the runway due to weather or other factors. The Tower controller must check the local procedures of the facility he or she is working at to see how a missed approach should be handled. In general, the controller will advise the pilot that they copy the missed approach, instruct the aircraft to fly runway heading, climb them to pattern altitude, and hand the pilot over to approach control for re-sequencing.
"FLY RUNWAY HEADING, CLIMB AND MAINTAIN <altitude>. CONTACT APPROACH ON <frequency>."
To instruct a pilot to abandon his approach use the term "GO AROUND". The most common reasons is another aircraft still on the runway or a runway incursion will result otherwise. Less common are unauthorized vehicles or personnel on the runway. Normally you should not issue go around instructions for approaches that look "unsafe." The pilot is usually in the best position to determine if he is able to make a safe landing.
A pilot on a VFR flight or IFR flight performing a visual approach may initiate a Go-Around procedure if they are unable to safely descend to the runway. Unless you issue other instructions a VFR aircraft will overfly the runway while climbing to traffic pattern altitude and an IFR aircraft on a Visual Approach can be issued pattern entry instructions as well.
Handoff any IFR aircraft executing a go around or missed approach back to approach control unless the aircraft requests to remain in the VFR traffic pattern or cancels IFR. VFR aircraft will normally remain in closed traffic for another pattern.
