Aerodrome Control and Aerodrome Operations
The aerodrome environment
Aerodrome control covers the manoeuvring area (runways and taxiways) and the apron (often delegated to ground or apron management). The aerodrome controller issues clearances for take-off, landing, taxi and crossing, and is responsible for the runway and for traffic in the aerodrome traffic circuit. Key concepts: runway occupancy, runway incursion, runway holding position, clearance to land/take-off, and conditional clearances. You must know the rules for low visibility operations (LVP), including when they are triggered and how they change separation and taxi procedures.
Separation on the aerodrome
Know the separation minima for departing and arriving aircraft, including the requirement to ensure the runway is clear before issuing a landing or take-off clearance. Understand wake turbulence on departure (time intervals by weight category), the use of intersection departures, and rejected take-off procedures. Be clear on the aerodrome traffic circuit, the meaning of "downwind", "base", "final", and the standard circuit direction (left-hand unless notified).
Traps and a rule of thumb
Traps: issuing a landing clearance before the preceding aircraft has vacated; conditional clearances that are ambiguous; forgetting that a pilot may reject a take-off at any time and the controller must be ready; and confusing the apron with the manoeuvring area for responsibility purposes. Rule of thumb: if you cannot clearly state who is where and what they will do next, do not issue the clearance. Worked example: an aircraft is on final at 3 NM and the preceding aircraft has just touched down - do not issue the landing clearance until the runway is assured clear; if in doubt, instruct the arrival to go around.