Ground Control

Ground control is the ATC position at a controlled airport responsible for controlling aircraft and vehicle movements on the manoeuvring area — taxiways, apron access routes, and the runway environment — except aircraft on the active runway (which tower controls). Ground control assigns taxi routes and issues taxi clearances.

Taxi Clearance Content

A typical taxi clearance: “[Aircraft], [Ground Station], taxi [runway], via [taxiway sequence], hold short of [runway X].” The pilot must read back the hold-short instruction verbatim. At complex airports, ground may provide a taxi diagram or “spot” to aid navigation.

Hotspot Awareness

Airport hotspots are areas of complex or confusing geometry that have historically been associated with runway incursions or incidents. Hotspots are charted on airport diagrams in the CFS. At unfamiliar airports, request progressive taxi instructions if needed.

Related Terms

See also: Control Tower, Hold Short, Runway.