Summary: Quick, what does back taxi mean? a) The seat you should take when boarding a New York City Yellow Cab. b) A ground controller's clearance to taxi against the overall flow of taxiing traffic on the airport. c) A tower controller's clearance to taxi on the runway opposite the direction of takeoff. When cleared for takeoff, where do you begin your takeoff roll? If you say, "At the beginning of the runway," you may be right. You may also be wrong. Fly runway heading versus depart straight out. What is the difference between these two tower clearances? Get the answers to all of these question in this week's edition of Radar Contact. Plus one more question you'll have to figure out for yourself. It's your question of the week. Come spend a few minutes with me and let's ponder the mysteries of air traffic control. Show Notes: You can plan on departing on a runway from a point abeam a specific taxiway intersection when the ground controller includes a taxiway intersection in his runway assignment for your aircraft. For example: Runway 23 at Alpha 1. You can find out how much runway will be available for takeoff from any intersection by asking the ground or the tower controller. If your airplane requires more runway length to safely take off than would be available from an intersection, simply tell Ground or Tower that your will need "full length." Some airport layouts only permit you to reach the end of a runway by taxiing on the runway itself. The phrase Tower will use that clears you to use the runway as a taxiway opposite the direction of takeoff is: back taxi. When departing a tower controlled airport, ATC may assign you to fly runway heading after takeoff. You can find a runway's heading by looking at the airport diagram. <a href="http://atccommunication.com/runway-intersections-and-back-taxiing/laxrunways" rel="attachment wp-att-2723"></a> If Tower tells you to depart straight out, that means you should adjust your heading after liftoff to counter the drifting effect of any crosswind. Crab into the wind to track over the ground along the runway's extended centerline. If you have finished reading <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0615723772/ref=as_li_tf_tl%20ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0615723772&linkCode=as2&tag=kelseysdoghou-20">Radio Mastery for VFR Pilots, </a>I sure would appreciate it if you would write a review at either <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0615723772/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0615723772&linkCode=as2&tag=kelseysdoghou-20">Amazon.com</a> or at <a href="http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=wbAvE*p*eBQ&subid=&offerid=239662.1&type=10&tmpid=8432&RD_PARM1=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.barnesandnoble.com%252Fw%252Fradio-mastery-for-vfr-pilots-jeff-kanarish%252F1113634090%253Fean%253D2940015886726">BarnesandNoble.com</a>. Your feedback not only helps me, it also helps other pilots make a decision to get a copy of the book. Questions of the Week You have just called for your taxi clearance at the Valdosta Regional Airport in Valdosta, Georgia. Your airplane needs a minimum runway length of 4,000 feet for takeoff. (Take a look at the airport diagram.) <a href="http://atccommunication.com/runway-intersections-and-back-taxiing/valdostaairport" rel="attachment wp-att-2694"></a> The airport is using Runway 17 for arrivals and departures. Runway 17 is 8,002 feet long. Runway 22 is also available for departures. The airport's NOTAMs say the last 2,000 feet of Runway 22 is closed for repaving with 3,598 available for takeoffs and landings. Valdosta Ground says to you, “Piper 948 Romeo Victor, Valdosta Ground. Runway 17, taxi via Hotel, then right on Alpha.” As you advance the throttle of your aircraft to begin taxiing you glance at the cockpit's clock. The currently local time is 5:45 am. The sun will not be up for another hour and a half. There is no moon.
