4/20/23 

AIM 

improved or unimproved and may be separate from or located on an airport/heliport. ATC will issue takeoff 

clearances from 

movement

 areas other than active runways, or in diverse directions from active runways, with 

additional instructions as necessary. Whenever possible, takeoff clearance will be issued in lieu of extended 

hover/air taxi operations. Phraseology will be “CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF FROM (taxiway, helipad, runway 

number, etc.), MAKE RIGHT/ LEFT TURN FOR (direction, heading, NAVAID radial) DEPARTURE/DEPAR-

TURE ROUTE (number, name, etc.).” Unless requested by the pilot, downwind takeoffs will not be issued if 

the tailwind exceeds 5 knots. 

2. 

Pilots should be alert to wind information as well as to wind indications in the vicinity of the helicopter. 

ATC should be advised of the intended method of departing. A pilot request to takeoff in a given direction 

indicates that the pilot is willing to accept the wind condition and controllers will honor the request if traffic 

permits. Departure points could be a significant distance from the control tower and it may be difficult or 

impossible for the controller to determine the helicopter’s relative position to the wind. 

3. 

If takeoff is requested from 

nonmovement

 areas, an area not authorized for helicopter use, an area not 

visible from the tower, an unlighted area at night, or an area off the airport, the phraseology “DEPARTURE 

FROM (requested location) WILL BE AT YOUR OWN RISK (additional instructions, as necessary). USE 

CAUTION (if applicable).” The pilot is responsible for operating in a safe manner and should exercise due 

caution. 

4. 

Similar phraseology is used for helicopter landing operations. Every effort will be made to permit 

helicopters to proceed direct and land as near as possible to their final destination on the airport. Traffic density, 

the need for detailed taxiing instructions, frequency congestion, or other factors may affect the extent to which 

service can be expedited. As with ground movement operations, a high degree of pilot/controller cooperation 

and communication is necessary to achieve safe and efficient operations. 

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18.  Taxiing 

a.  General. 

Approval must be obtained prior to moving an aircraft or vehicle onto the movement area during 

the hours an Airport Traffic Control Tower is in operation. 

1. 

Always state your position on the airport when calling the tower for taxi instructions. 

2. 

The movement area is normally described in local bulletins issued by the airport manager or control 

tower. These bulletins may be found in FSSs, fixed base operators offices, air carrier offices, and operations 

offices. 

3. 

The control tower also issues bulletins describing areas where they cannot provide ATC service due to 

nonvisibility or other reasons. 

4. 

A clearance must be obtained prior to taxiing on a runway, taking off, or landing during the hours an 

Airport Traffic Control Tower is in operation. 

5. 

A clearance must be obtained prior to crossing any runway. ATC will issue an explicit clearance for all 

runway crossings. 

6. 

When assigned a takeoff runway, ATC will first specify the runway, issue taxi instructions, and state any 

hold short instructions or runway crossing clearances if the taxi route will cross a runway. This does not authorize 

the aircraft to “enter” or “cross” the assigned departure runway at any point. In order to preclude 

misunderstandings in radio communications, ATC will not use the word “cleared” in conjunction with 

authorization for aircraft to taxi. 

7. 

When issuing taxi instructions to any point other than an assigned takeoff runway, ATC will specify the 

point to taxi to, issue taxi instructions, and state any hold short instructions or runway crossing clearances if the 

taxi route will cross a runway. 

NOTE

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ATC is required to obtain a readback from the pilot of all runway hold short instructions. 

Airport Operations 

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