Start-up & Taxi
beginnerUK phraseologyRequest start and taxi at a controlled aerodrome, then read back a taxi clearance to a holding point. Learn the mandatory holding-point and runway readback, and why you never enter a runway without an explicit clearance.
Briefing
You are on the apron at Gloucester (EGBJ) in PA-28 Golf Charlie Delta Alpha Bravo, ready to start for a VFR departure. You already have ATIS information Delta. Gloucester Ground is on 121.500. Call for start and taxi.
Practise this scenario
Open the free trainer and select this scenario to role-play it turn by turn — reply by typing or tapping a suggested call, and get scored out of 10.
Open trainer →What this scenario covers
- Exchange 1
Call Gloucester Ground. Request taxi, and tell them you have the ATIS (information Delta) and the current QNH 1008.
Model reply: “Gloucester Ground, Golf Charlie Delta Alpha Bravo, PA-28, request taxi, information Delta, QNH one zero zero eight”
💡 Reporting the ATIS letter tells the controller you already have the weather and runway, so they can give you a shorter clearance. Full callsign on first contact.
- Exchange 2
ATC: “Golf Alpha Bravo, taxi to holding point Alpha One, runway two seven, QNH one zero zero eight.”
Read back the taxi clearance. Holding point, runway and QNH are all mandatory readback items.
Model reply: “Taxi to holding point Alpha One, runway two seven, QNH one zero zero eight, Golf Alpha Bravo”
💡 A taxi clearance is NOT a clearance to enter or cross a runway. Read back the holding point, runway and QNH in full — "Roger" is never an acceptable readback of these.
- Exchange 3
ATC: “Golf Alpha Bravo, hold position, give way to the Cessna passing left to right.”
Acknowledge the instruction to hold and give way.
Model reply: “Holding position, giving way to the Cessna, Golf Alpha Bravo”
💡 "Hold position" means stop where you are. Read back the instruction with your callsign so the controller has positive confirmation you will hold.
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