TWR SOP – Phraseology
For the purposes of this and all other phraseological examples in this Knowledgebase, IFR traffic will always be denoted with common airline callsigns, such as BTI123 (Air Baltic 123) and VFR traffic will be denoted with registration-based callsigns, such as YLKGB (YL-KGB: Yankee, Lima, Kilo, Golf, Bravo).
()parentheses shall be used for optional parts of instructions that are to be used on a case by case basis.[]square brackets shall be used for instances where a choice must be made by the station speaking on frequency. Different options will be separated with/forward slashes.{}curly braces shall be used for arbitrary values that will change on a case-by-case basis.
Basic Phraseology
Takeoff Clearances
BTI123: Riga Tower, good evening, BTI123 ready for departure from E.
TWR: BTI123, Riga Tower, good evening, surface wind 120 degrees, 6 knots, runway 18, cleared for takeoff, bye-bye!
Runway 18, cleared for takeoff, see you, BTI123.Line-up Clearances
BTI123: Riga Tower, good evening, BTI123 ready for departure from E.
TWR: BTI123, Riga Tower, good evening, line-up and wait, runway 18.
Line-up and wait, runway 18, BTI123.BTI123: Riga Tower, good evening, BTI123 ready for departure from E.
TWR: BTI123, Riga Tower, good evening, behind the [departing/arriving] Scandinavian Airbus A320 line-up runway 18 and wait behind.
BTI123: Behind the [departing/arriving] Scandinavian Airbus A320 line-up runway 18 and wait behind, BTI123.
Landing Clearances
BTI123: Riga Tower, good evening, BTI123 [fully/localiser] established, ILS Y, runway 18.
TWR: BTI123, Riga Tower, good evening, surface wind 190 degrees, 5 knots, runway 18, cleared to land.
Runway 18, cleared to land, BTI123.”Continue Approach” Instructions
BTI123: Riga Tower, good evening, BTI123 [fully/localiser] established, ILS Y, runway 18.
TWR: BTI123, Riga Tower, good evening, continue ILS Y approach, runway 18, you are number 2(, [surface wind/wind check] 160 degrees, 7 knots).
BTI123: Continue ILS Y approach, runway 18, we are number 2, BTI123.
Late Landing Clearance Notification
TWR: BTI123, expect late landing clearance(, [surface wind/wind check] 160 degrees, 7 knots).
Expect late landing clearance, BTI123.Missed Approach Instructions
TWR: BTI123, GO AROUND, GO AROUND, {REASON}, climb out runway track to altitude 2500FT, contact Riga Approach on 129.925.
BTI123: Going around, climb out runway track to altitude 2500FT, contact Riga Approach on 129.925, BTI123.
BTI123, going around, {REASON}.TWR: BTI123, roger, climb out runway track to altitude 2500FT, contact Riga Approach on 129.925.
BTI123: Climb out runway track to altitude 2500FT, contact Riga Approach on 129.925, BTI123.
Notes:
- Both Rīga Tower and the aircraft’s crew can invoke the missed approach procedure.
- During periods of High Intensity Runway Operations (HIRO), the reason for invocation of the missed approach procedure by the ATS unit may be omitted from the instruction.
- The reason for invocation of the missed approach procedure must be clearly communicated to APS.
- Rīga Tower reserves the right to alter the standard missed approach procedure by issuing a single vector to the aircraft in question in order to provide timely separation or otherwise ensure safe and efficient operations. An example is shown below.
TWR: BTI123, GO AROUND, GO AROUND, {REASON}, turn [right/left] heading {HEADING}, climb to altitude 2500FT, contact Riga Approach on 129.925.
BTI123: Going around, turn [right/left] heading {HEADING}, climb to altitude 2500FT, contact Riga Approach on 129.925, BTI123.
BTI123, going around, {REASON}.TWR: BTI123, roger, turn [right/left] heading {HEADING}, climb to altitude 2500FT, contact Riga Approach on 129.925.
BTI123: Turn [right/left] heading {HEADING}, climb to altitude 2500FT, contact Riga Approach on 129.925, BTI123.
Instructions for VFR Traffic
Takeoff Clearances
YLKGB: Riga Tower, good evening, YLKGB ready for departure from E.
TWR: YLKGB, Riga Tower, good evening, surface wind 120 degrees, 6 knots, runway 18, cleared for takeoff, report airborne!
Runway 18, cleared for takeoff, wilco, YLKGB.Inbound Runway Operations
YLKGB on final, runway 18.TWR: YLKGB, surface wind 190 degrees, 5 knots, runway 18, cleared to land.
Runway 18, cleared to land, YLKGB.YLKGB on final, runway 18.TWR: YLKGB, surface wind 190 degrees, 5 knots, runway 18, cleared for touch-and-go, report airborne.
YLKGB: Runway 18, cleared for touch-and-go, report airborne, YLKGB.
YLKGB on final, runway 18.TWR: YLKGB, surface wind 190 degrees, 5 knots, runway 18, cleared for low pass, report passing threshold of runway 36.
YLKGB: Runway 18, cleared for low pass, report passing threshold of runway 36, YLKGB.
Instructions For Airborne Traffic
Aerodrome Visual Circuit
YLKGB, airborne, passing 200FT.TWR: YLKGB, roger, report downwind (with intentions).YLKGB: Report downwind (with intentions), YLKGB.YLKGB, on downwind.TWR: YLKGB, roger, report your intentions.YLKGB: Request touch-and-go, YLKGB.TWR: YLKGB, roger, report final.YLKGB, on downwind.TWR: YLKGB, roger, report your intentions.YLKGB: Request touch-and-go, YLKGB.TWR: YLKGB, roger, extend downwind till avised.YLKGB: Extend downwind till advised, YLKGB.YLKGB, cleared base turn.YLKGB: Cleared base turn, YLKGB.Notes:
- In low traffic settings, VFR aircraft may be cleared to land, for touch-and-go, or for a low pass from the downwind leg of the visual circuit.
Entry to the Controlled Airspace
YLKGB: Riga Tower, hello, YLKGB, requesting to enter the controlled airspace, entry point ELING.
TWR: YLKGB, hello, cleared to enter the controlled airspace, entry point ELING, remain at or below 1000FT, QNH 1013, join the right hand downwind, runway 18, report passing overhead ELING.
YLKGB: Cleared to enter the controlled airspace, entry point ELING, remain at or below 1000FT, QNH 1013, join the right hand downwind, runway 18, report passing overhead ELING, YLKGB.
Exit from the Controlled Airspace
The exit clearance is phrased as follows.
YLKGB: YLKGB, requesting to exit the controlled airspace, exit point KAGAL.
TWR: YLKGB, cleared to exit the controlled airspace, exit point KAGAL, remain at or below 1500FT, QNH 1013, report passing overhead KAGAL.
YLKGB: Cleared to exit the controlled airspace, exit point KAGAL, remain at or below 1500FT, QNH 1013, report passing overhead KAGAL, YLKGB.
The “frequency change approved” instruction is phrased as follow.
YLKGB, overhead KAGAL.TWR: YLKGB, frequency change approved, flight information service is available on frequency 120.225.
YLKGB: Frequency change approved, flight information service is available on frequency 120.225, YLKGB.
Transit of the Controlled Airspace
YLKGB: YLKGB, requesting to transit the controlled airspace via the North Transit Route.
TWR: YLKGB, cleared to transit the controlled airspace, exit point MAORI, follow the North Transit Route, exit point KAGAL, remain at or below 500FT, QNH 1013, report passing overhead MAORI.
YLKGB: Cleared to transit the controlled airspace, exit point MAORI, follow the North Transit Route, exit point KAGAL, remain at or below 500FT, QNH 1013, report passing overhead MAORI, YLKGB.
YLKGB, requesting to transit the controlled airspace.TWR: YLKGB, report your requested routing.YLKGB: Requesting entry via ARNIS, routing JAMAR, exit via KROGS, YLKGB.
TWR: YLKGB, cleared to transit the controlled airspace, entry point ARNIS, routing JAMAR, exit point KROGS, remain at 1500FT, QNH 1013, report passing overhead ARNIS.
YLKGB: Cleared to transit the controlled airspace, entry point ARNIS, routing JAMAR, exit point KROGS, remain at 1500FT, QNH 1013, report passing overhead ARNIS., YLKGB.
Note:
- Runway thresholds may be used as visual references and points in a transit routing.
- Aircraft requesting to overfly the runway must be explicitly cleared to
cross the field.
Provision of Traffic Information
TWR: YLKGB, traffic information, Air Baltic Airbus A220 is at your 3 o'clock, 2000FT indicating, (approximate distance 4 NM,) report traffic in sight.
Traffic in sight, YLKGB.TWR: YLKGB, roger.Transfer of Communications
Departures
NIL. In case of pilot deviation the following phraseology shall be used.
BTI123, airborne.TWR: BTI123, Riga applies the automatic handoff procedure for all departures, please check the charts. Contact Riga Approach on 129.925.
Contact Riga Approach on 129.925, BTI123.Arrivals
NIL. In case of pilot deviation the following phraseology shall be used.
BTI123, runway vacated.TWR: BTI123, welcome to Riga, contact Ground (on 118.805).BTI123: Contact Ground (on 118.805), BTI123.Advanced Phraseology
Reduced Runway Separation Minima
Takeoff Clearances
BTI123: Riga Tower, BTI123 ready for an immediate departure from G.
TWR: BTI123, Riga Tower, surface wind 120 degrees, 6 knots, runway 18, cleared for an immediate takeoff, bye-bye!
BTI123: Runway 18, cleared for an immediate takeoff, see you, BTI123.
Riga Tower, BTI123 ready for departure from G.TWR: BTI123, Riga Tower, preceding traffic is vacating the runway (via Y), surface wind 120 degrees, 6 knots, runway 18, cleared for takeoff, bye-bye!
Runway 18, cleared for takeoff, see you, BTI123.Notes:
- During periods of High Intensity Runway Operations (HIRO), the pilots are expected to contact Rīga Tower using their callsign only. Rīga Tower may explicitly prompt a given crew for their ability to depart immediately.
Landing Clearances
BTI123: Riga Tower, good evening, BTI123 [fully/localiser] established, ILS Y, runway 18.
TWR: BTI123, Riga Tower, good evening, preceding traffic is vacating the runway (via Y), surface wind 190 degrees, 5 knots, runway 18, cleared to land.
Runway 18, cleared to land, BTI123.