AIM - RAC 4. 4. 3 - Landing Clearance

At controlled airports, a pilot must obtain landing clearance prior to landing. Normally, the
airport controller will initiate landing clearance without having first received the request
from the aircraft; however, should this not occur, the onus remains upon the pilot to
request such clearance in sufficient time to accommodate the operating characteristics of
the aircraft being flown. NORDO and RONLY aircraft shall be considered as intending to
land when they join and conform to the traffic circuit. Landing clearance will normally be
given when an aircraft is on final approach. If landing clearance is not received, the pilot
shall, except in case of emergency, pull up and make another circuit.

Pilot:     VICTORIA TOWER, ALFA BRAVO CHARLIE LANDING
            CLEARANCE RUNWAY 26.

Tower:  ALFA BRAVO CHARLIE, CLEARED TO LAND.

Pilot:     ALFA BRAVO CHARLIE.

Controllers may, on occasion, authorize ground traffic to cross the landing runway after a
landing clearance has been issued. Any such authorisation by ATC is given with the
assurance that the runway will be clear of conflicting traffic at the time the arriving aircraft
crosses the landing threshold. When it appears that the runway may not be clear for
landing, the pilot will be advised to “CONTINUE APPROACH, POSSIBLE PULL-UP.”
When a “pull-up” is necessary (before or after the landing clearance has been issued), the
pilot shall abandon the approach and make another circuit.

Tower:     TRAFFIC STILL ON RUNWAY, PULL-UP AND GO AROUND.

Common ATC Phraseologies:

                CAUTION, POSSIBLE TURBULENCE FROM LANDING (aircraft type
                and position).
                MAKE LEFT/RIGHT 360.
                MAKE FULL-STOP LANDING.
                CONTACT TOWER/GROUND ON (frequency) WHEN OFF RUNWAY/
                NOW.

The “cleared for the option” procedure has been introduced to give a pilot the option to
make a touch-and-go, low approach, missed approach, stop-and-go, or a full stop landing.
This procedure will normally be used during light traffic conditions.

Pilot:     VICTORIA TOWER, ALFA BRAVO CHARLIE, DOWNWIND
             RUNWAY 27, REQUEST THE OPTION.

Tower: ALFA BRAVO CHARLIE, CLEARED FOR THE OPTION RUNWAY 27.