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Coordination Tower / Ground

Already between tower and ground, in many situations communication and coordination are indispensable for smooth, safe and efficient traffic handling.

Even though most standard operations are regulated in the form of SOPs, there are many situations that require coordination between two ATC stations.

Examples for coordination tower / approach:

  • Vectored Departure (if an IFR pilot cannot / does not want to fly a SID)
  • Visual Departure (if permitted according to SOPs)
  • Departure releases, if required
  • Non-standard approach procedures (e.g. visual approach if the pilot cannot fly a standard approach)
  • Emergencies including relevant details
  • Missed approaches including reason and further instructions (usually the standard missed approach)
  • SVFR, so that the approach controller can increase spacing between approaches if necessary
  • Low visibility operations
  • Closing and reopening of runways
  • Change of runway direction
  • Departures from runways that aren't the current runway in use

Examples of coordination between tower and ground / apron:

  • Pilot has mistaxied and must be handed over somewhere else than normal
  • Aircraft at a holding point has a technical problem, so the ground controller places subsequent aircraft at a different intersection
  • Pilot has requested a specific intersection
  • Controller is missing an aircraft on their frequency that should already be with them

In contrast to many coodrinations between approach and center, there generally is no standard phraseology for coordination in the tower area. Therefore, normal "plain language" should be used when coordinating with the neighboring ATC unit. However, it should be noted that this station may be very busy with pilots. Therefore, you should not just start talking and also should keep your inquiries as short as possible.

Examples:

T: Approach, Tower
A: Go ahead
T: DLH4MA can't fly SIDs and has to go to CINDY, which vectored departure should I give him?
A: Climb on runway track to 4000 feet, thereafter expect radar vectors
T: Consider
T: Apron, Tower 
A: Go ahead
T: CFG2228 taxied wrong, coming via M30 instead of M8
A: Roger
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