In an effort to improve safety and reduce the risk of runway incursions, air traffic controllers at Phoenix Gateway airport (IWA) will be expecting more precise radio communications from pilots.

Effective immediately, all aircraft who are No. 1 for departure will be instructed to hold short of the runway. Controllers must ensure a proper read back of all hold short instructions, including the the runway assignment in the read back. In addition, all pilots must include their call sign in the read backs.

Finally, controllers will be ensuring that pilots preface their call sign with the aircraft type, model, manufacturer’s name, or “N”.

The new procedures are spelled out in a Letter to Airman distributed June 15, which includes examples of acceptable and unacceptable phraseology and pilot responses.

Here’s an example:

Controller Phraseology: “November One Two Three Four Five, Hold Short of Runway Three Zero Left at Kilo.”

Pilot Response: “November One Two Three Four Five, Hold Short of Runway Three Zero Left at Kilo,”

OR

Pilot Response: “Cherokee Three Four Five, Hold Short of Runway Three Zero Left at Kilo.”

An unacceptable response would be something like the following:

“Piper 321, holding short,” or, “Holding short of the right, 321.” Or, even worse, “November 321, roger, Wilco.”

Download a PDF copy of the Letter to Airmen Here. (290 KB, requires the free Adobe Reader.)