A new video in the FAA’s series “From the Flight Deck” offers safety tips from air traffic controllers for pilots who are taxiing onto the departure runway while waiting to take off.
Called “Line Up and Wait,” the nine-minute video looks at instances of pilots who were told to “line up and wait” but instead started their takeoff roll, leading to near-misses at airports around the country.
According to FAA officials, there were more than 50 instances in 2023 of pilots who were told to “Line Up and Wait” but didn’t listen.
I too remember when the verbiage change took place. There were several factors driving this as previously mentioned. Another reason for the change was the pilot responses. If given a clearance to, “Taxi into position and hold”, a response might be, “On to hold”. If given a clearance to, “Hold short”, a response often heard was, “On the hold”. This did lead to many clearance failures. US pilots and controllers often take short cuts with radio transmissions that are not heard internationally. International pilots flying overseas learn quickly to repeat instructions back EXACTLY as given. By now, “Line up and wait” should be fully incorporated and familiar. If not, it should be highlighted during training. There may be a better phrase but I would hate to make another change during this critical phase. Just my $0.02.
I concur entirely with the verbiage “line up and HOLD:
. My readback is Line up & holding runway XXX
1000 hr piston pilot.
Years ago, our former “Taxi Into Position and Hold” (TIPAH) became “Line Up and Wait” (LUAW) in the FAA’s deference to compliance with ICAO phraseology. While I completely understand the goal of having aviation terminology/phraseology be the same worldwide, I have always strongly believed that ICAO should have changed theirs to comply with the FAA’s rather than the other WAY around. LUAW does not communicate remotely near the clarity and specificity of TIPAH. The TIP portion of the phrase is extremely clear in that the aircraft is only cleared to its specific take off POSITION on the runway. The AH portion is even further extremely clear in that the aircraft is to HOLD in that POSITION. LUAW is far less intrinsically clear… line up where and wait for what? I would be very interested to see the statistical data on the percentage of LUAW clearances that resulted in unauthorized takeoffs versus TIPAH clearances that resulted in unauthorized takeoffs. I strongly suspect that the data would show that LUAW was a factor FAR more often. Of course, we still need to put the primary blame on the flight crew, whether it is a one, two, or three person one, but I believe that fundamentally clearer phraseology would help.
As a former CFI of 30 years, I’ve been curious about this same issue. What safety statistic constituted the need to change “Position and hold” to “Line up and wait” for better safety? They didn’t change “Hold short of runway 21” to “Wait short of runway 21”, for example. If the change is supposed to convey a clearer instruction from the tower, I don’t see it.
My 2 cents–How about using the phrase, “line up and hold”?
He’s right [correct]. One does not “wait” their position, they hold their position. “Wait” what? Apparently, every pilot knows that except the regulators most of who could not fly a kite. I mean not to be snarky, but it is the truth. Clear, understandable and uniform language for aviators is paramount. Put that on hold, permanent hold, sir….
I’ve been doing this long enough (50+ yrs) to remember when the “line up and wait” verbiage was launched. The most notable eye opener was at CDG (night) when I was issued the following “ XXX line up and wait—behind the landing Airbus”. Recipe for disaster IMO, especially since this was new to everyone. I think that phraseology was changed shortly after because just about everyone raised concerns.
The other thing that I find “off” is the use of the word “standby” instead of “hold short”when announcing “ready for takeoff”. Haven’t been able to figure where that came from.
It fits the international phraseology.
Frequently, in LHR, CDG, FRA, FCO
Non native speakers of english language
Two airplanes on the runway at the same time for takeoff.
One starting at about 8000′ remaining and the other at 11,000′ remaining.
It saves a few seconds of time and that adds up.
LHR ATC: Shorthaul 123, “line up and takeoff” rwy 27R at {8000′ remaining}
Singapore 789 “line up and wait” rwy 27R at {11,000′ remaining place}
FCO ATC: Little 737, “Rwy 25 “Line up and wait” @ the {7000′ remaining place}
Alitalia Big, Rwy 25 “Line up and wait” behind @ the {8000’remaing place}
Crossing traffic.
Now, FCO can have 2 airplanes ready and waiting simultaneously on the departing rwy while another is landing or taking off on the crossing rwy, 16/34
Hold Short of, {a place} or Stop at {a place} is used to remain clear of something like a runway, taxiway, ramp entry point, etc.
Common these days with newer personnel shuffling things to try to warrant their job. I see it in construction, trucking and other venues, pretty much non stop.
You should see the battery of tests we take now to build water lines on airport property no where near any activity areas.
I never quite understood the logic behind this change in nomenclature. “Hold” was always the “end all, cure all” command given by those on the other side of the frequency. Is it more logical to hear a controller say “wait short of runway xyz” or “hold short of runway xyz”? The word “hold” is an end command, where “wait” just doesn’t present the same emphasis, [in my opinion and the way I am wired]. “Position and Hold” is a decisive command and will always be part of my standard thinking when flying in a controlled environment. When you add a busy airport, complex taxi instructions, weather conditions and busy work in the cockpit, I know what I would prefer to hear. It would interesting to know what the statistics show for unapproved takeoffs after a “position and hold” command, prior to the change in nomenclature to “line up and wait”. If the “old way” was working, why was the change made??