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2 Answers

Engine startup request

Asked by: 5304 views Private Pilot

Good Afternoon Everyone,

As a normal procedure in my flight school I use to start up my engine and afterwards make initial contact to clearance delivery and request clearance for vfr flight.

However, I was a reading the far/aim and it states " pilots of departing aircraft should communicate ground control/clearance delivery frequency prior starting engines to receive engine start time, taxi and or clearance information"

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2 Answers

  1. Best Answer


    lhornaday on Jun 05, 2017

    This is intended for airline use when gate hold procedures are in effect at a particular airport. It is used when departure delays are anticipated at the airport, not for traffic flow reasons.

    See AIM 4-3-15 for more detail.

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  2. R. Anderson on Jun 06, 2017

    Hello John318,

    To expand a bit on your question, there are (generally) two reasons that a pilot (IFR only) would call ATC prior to starting engines.

    1. “Gate Hold procedures” (when delay is expected to be 15 minutes or more). This is usually announced on the ATIS frequency. (AiM 4-3-15)

    2. “Pre-taxi clearance procedures,” which is a published and established procedure (recommended, not required) where a pilot receives his/her IFR clearance before engine start. The published frequency for this procedure can be found in the “Chart Supplement” for the airport in question. See KJFK for example, which has both a published frequency for “Gate Hold” and “Pre-Taxi” clearance. (AIM 5-2-1)

    Note that these procedures apply to all IFR aircraft, not just Airline (Air Carrier) aircraft.

    Remember to always listen to ATIS and read the Chart Supplement for the airports you are operating from.

    Good question.

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