Approach and landing

Approach and Landing

Approach and landing are the final radio phases on arrival at the destination. Clearly structured phraseology facilitates pattern integration and landing.

Source: ICAO Doc 9432 Chapter 6 Approach and Landing; ICAO Doc 4444 PANS-ATM.

Phase 1: Approach announcement

Initial call to approach (controlled field)

Pilot (about 15-20 NM from field, 30 NM at large TMAs):

"Munich Approach, Delta Echo Mike Romeo Alpha, Cessna 172, VFR from Stuttgart, 15 NM north-west of field, level 5500 ft QNH 1015, with information Charlie, request joining instructions for runway 26."

ATC reply

"Romeo Alpha, Munich Approach, expect right base for runway 26, descend to 3000 ft QNH 1015, report passing VRP November."

Pilot read-back

"Right base runway 26, descend 3000 ft QNH 1015, report passing VRP November, Romeo Alpha."

Phase 2: In pattern or approach

Pattern direction — standard and exceptions

• Standard: left turns in the pattern (Left-Hand Traffic). Pilot flies downwind with left turns, base to the left, final straight.
• Exception: right turns only when explicitly published (AIP, VAC chart "RH circuit") or instructed by ATC.
• Runway number indicates direction: "Downwind 16" → downwind for runway 16 (heading approx. 160°). With Left-Hand as standard, the pilot flies parallel to the runway with the runway on the left.
• Standard altitude: 1000 ft AAL (Above Aerodrome Level) for light aircraft, higher for transport aircraft.

Position reports in pattern

At controlled fields with ATC:

• "Romeo Alpha, downwind runway 26, Munich Tower."
• "Romeo Alpha, base runway 26."
• "Romeo Alpha, final runway 26."

At uncontrolled fields (self-radio):

• "DEMRA, downwind runway 08, [field name]."

ATC instructions in pattern

• "Romeo Alpha, number 2 to follow Cessna 172."
• "Romeo Alpha, extend downwind, expect base in 2 minutes."
• "Romeo Alpha, continue approach, runway 26, cleared to land."

Phase 3: Landing clearance

Standard clearance

ATC: "Romeo Alpha, runway 26, wind 270 degrees 10 knots, cleared to land."

Pilot read-back: "Cleared to land runway 26, Romeo Alpha."

Phase 4: Special cases

Conditional clearance

"Romeo Alpha, behind the landing 737, runway 26, cleared to land behind."

→ Pilot lands behind the aircraft currently landing.

Wind information with landing clearance

Tower states current wind:

• "Wind 270 degrees 10 knots, cleared to land runway 26."

Crosswind / tailwind

• "Caution, crosswind 18 knots, cleared to land runway 26."
• With tailwind: may be unsafe → pilot can request go-around or another runway.

Go-around instruction

Tower on traffic conflict:

• "Romeo Alpha, go around, runway is occupied."

Pilot: "Going around, Romeo Alpha."

Pilot-initiated go-around

Pilot decides (e.g. not stabilised):

• "Munich Tower, Romeo Alpha, going around."
• ATC: "Romeo Alpha, roger, climb to 2500 ft, report downwind."

Phase 5: After touchdown

Vacated call

After clearing the runway (on taxiway):

• "Munich Ground, Romeo Alpha, vacated runway 26 via Bravo."

Frequency change

Tower hands off to ground:

• "Romeo Alpha, contact Ground 121.7."

Pilot switches and reports:

• "Munich Ground, Romeo Alpha, vacated runway 26."

Special transmissions

VFR joining instructions

At large fields:

• "Romeo Alpha, join right base for runway 26 at 2500 ft."
• "Romeo Alpha, join downwind runway 26 at 1500 ft AAL."
• "Romeo Alpha, straight-in approach runway 26."

"Report field in sight"

• ATC: "Romeo Alpha, report field in sight."
• Pilot: "Field in sight, Romeo Alpha."

"Report final"

• ATC: "Romeo Alpha, report final runway 26."
• Pilot at final: "Romeo Alpha, final runway 26."

Touch-and-go vs full-stop

• "Romeo Alpha, runway 26, cleared touch and go." (touchdown then immediate take-off).
• "Romeo Alpha, runway 26, cleared to land, full stop."

Approach at uncontrolled field

Self-radio

Self-announcement (no ATC service):

• "[Field name] traffic, DEMRA, 10 NM north, inbound for runway 08."
• "[Field name] traffic, DEMRA, joining downwind runway 08."
• "[Field name] traffic, DEMRA, base runway 08."
• "[Field name] traffic, DEMRA, final runway 08."

Other traffic listens and coordinates.

Common errors

• Landing clearance forgotten: pilot only gets "expect", lands without explicit clearance → violation.
• Read-back incomplete: ATC follows up.
• Pattern position wrongly reported: confusion with other traffic.
• Wrong pattern direction: pilot flies right turns although Left-Hand is published.
• Frequency not changed: after vacated still on Tower.

Cross-reference

• Subject 070 Lesson "Approach and Landing": pilot technique.
• Subject 070 Lesson "Crosswind Landings".