Taxi
Taxi request and clearance
Request taxi and confirm the clearance limit, route and runway.
When you use it
First call to Ground (or Tower at aerodromes without Ground) after start-up.
Example exchange
This is an illustrative example. The required elements matter more than the exact words — ICAO phraseology allows variation, and local procedures can differ.
Required information
- Station called
- Call sign
- Aircraft type (first contact)
- Position
- Request
- ATIS code
Expected sequence
- Station called
- Own call sign
- Type
- Position
- Request taxi (and intention)
- ATIS code
Read back
- Holding point (clearance limit)
- Runway
- Route
- QNH
Why it works this way
Every taxi instruction has a clearance limit, normally the runway-holding point (Doc 9432 §4.4.1). The runway in use, the QNH and any instruction to hold short of, cross, enter or backtrack on a runway must be read back (§2.8.3.5); read back the rest of the taxi clearance so it is clear you will comply (§2.8.3.6). ATC abbreviating your call sign (VKA) permits you to use the abbreviated form with that unit (§2.7.2.2.1).
Common errors
- Omitting the holding point
- Using the abbreviated call sign before ATC does
- Treating a taxi clearance to a holding point as permission to enter the runway
References
- ICAO Doc 9432, Manual of Radiotelephony (4th ed., 2007), §4.4 — Taxi instructions
- ICAO Doc 9432, Manual of Radiotelephony (4th ed., 2007), §2.7.2 — Aircraft call signs
Practise it: Taxi out for a local VFR flight
Run the related simulator scenario and get item-by-item feedback on your transmissions.
Open the scenario