AIM - RAC 4.3.5 - Taxi Information

Taxi authorization should be requested on the ground control frequency. If no flight
plan has been filed, the pilot should inform the tower on initial contact of the nature of
the flight, such as “local VFR” or “proceeding VFR to (destination).”

    Pilot:     WINNIPEG GROUND, AZTEC GOLF JULIETT VICTOR HOTEL AT
                  HANGAR NO. 3, REQUEST TAXI–IFR EDMONTON 8000.

    Ground
    Control:     GOLF JULIETT VICTOR HOTEL, WINNIPEG GROUND, RUNWAY
                       (number), WIND (in magnetic degrees and knots), ALTIMETER (4-figure
                       group giving the altimeter in inches of mercury), TAXI (runway or other
                       specific point, route). Other information, such as traffic, airport conditions,
                       CRFI, RSC, or RVR when applicable, CLEARANCE ON REQUEST.

    Pilot:         GOLF JULIETT VICTOR HOTEL.

Under no circumstances may a taxiing aircraft, whether proceeding to or from the
active runway, taxi onto an active runway unless specifically authorized to do so (see
RAC 4.2.6 and 4.2.7).

Upon receipt of a normal taxi authorization, a pilot is expected to proceed to the taxiholding
position for the runway assigned for takeoff. If a pilot is required to cross any
runway while taxiing towards the departure runway, the ground or airport controller
will issue a specific instruction to cross or hold short. If a specific authorization to
cross was not received, pilots should hold short and request authorization to cross the
runway. Pilots may be instructed to monitor the tower frequency while taxiing or until a
specific point, or they may be advised to “Contact tower holding short.” The term holding
short, when used during the communications transfer, is considered as a location and does
not require a readback.

To emphasize the protection of active runways and to enhance the prevention of
runway incursions, taxi authorizations that contain the instructions hold or hold short
shall be acknowledged by the pilot providing a readback or repeating the hold point.

Examples of hold points that should be read back:

                HOLD or HOLD ON (runway number or taxiway);
                HOLD (direction) OF (runway number); or
                HOLD SHORT OF (runway number, or taxiway).

In order to reduce frequency congestion, pilots are reminded that readback of ATC taxi
instructions, other than those listed above, is not required in accordance with
CAR 602.31(1)(a). Such instructions are simply acknowledged. With the increased
simultaneous use of more than one runway, however, instructions to enter, cross,
backtrack or line up on any runway should also be acknowledged by a readback.

Example:      An aircraft is authorized to backtrack a runway to the holding bay and to
                    report clear when in the holding bay.

        Pilot:     GOLF CHARLIE FOXTROT ALFA BACKTRACKING
                    RUNWAY 25 AND WILL REPORT IN THE HOLDING BAY.

NOTE:         To avoid causing clutter on controllers’ radar displays, pilots should adjust
                    their transponders to “standby” while taxiing and should not switched them
                    to “on” (or “normal”) until immediately before takeoff.

The tower may instruct aircraft to “taxi to position and wait”. Controllers will issue the
name of the runway intersection or taxiway with the authorization if the position taxied
to is not at the threshold of the departing runway.