AIM - RAC 4. 4. 2 - Initial Clearance

On initial contact with the tower, unless the pilot advises receipt of ATIS, the airport
controller will inform the pilot of runway in use, wind direction and speed, altimeter
setting and any other pertinent information. Following this, the pilot will receive
clearance to proceed, including any necessary restrictions. The shortest routing to the
runway may be expected if traffic permits. Pilots of VFR aircraft should check the
CFS (or a VTA chart if applicable) for special procedures at the time of flight
planning.

When a pilot is given a clearance “to the circuit” by ATC, it is expected that the
aircraft will join the circuit on the downwind leg at circuit height. Depending on the
direction of approach to the airport and the runway in use, it may be necessary to
proceed crosswind prior to joining the circuit on the downwind leg.

The ATC phraseology “cleared to the circuit” authorizes a pilot to make a right turn in
order to join crosswind, or partial right turn to join a left-hand circuit provided that the
right turn or partial right turn can be carried out safely.

A straight-in approach is an approach where an aircraft joins the traffic circuit on the
final leg without having executed any other portion of the circuit.

When an aircraft is cleared for a right-hand approach while a left-hand circuit is in
effect, it shall be flown so as to join the circuit on the right-hand downwind leg, or join
directly into the right-hand base leg, as cleared by the airport controller.

Pilot:     KELOWNA TOWER, CESSNA FOXTROT ALFA BRAVO CHARLIE,
            15 MILES NORTH, 6 500 FEET VFR, REQUEST LANDING
            INSTRUCTIONS.

Tower:  ALFA BRAVO CHARLIE, KELOWNA TOWER, RUNWAY (number),
            WIND (direction in degrees magnetic, speed in knots), ALTIMETER (4-
            figure group in inches), other pertinent instructions or information if deemed
            necessary, CLEARED TO THE CIRCUIT or CLEARED TO LEFT BASE
            LEG or CLEARED STRAIGHT-IN APPROACH.

Pilot:     ALFA BRAVO CHARLIE.

When a pilot has received current landing information from the tower or the ATIS
broadcast, initial clearance may be requested as follows:

Pilot:     VICTORIA TOWER, CESSNA FOXTROT ALFA BRAVO CHARLIE
            (aircraft position), ALTITUDE, CHECK LANDING INFORMATION (or)
            WITH INFORMATION (ATIS code). REQUEST CLEARANCE TO THE
            CIRCUIT (or other type of approach).

Once established in the circuit as cleared, the pilot is to advise the tower accordingly.

Pilot:     VICTORIA TOWER, ALFA BRAVO CHARLIE DOWNWIND.

Tower:     ALFA BRAVO CHARLIE NUMBER (approach sequence number). If not
                Number1, the tower will give the type, position and colour if significant, of
                aircraft to follow and other instructions or information.

Pilot:     ALFA BRAVO CHARLIE.

Common ATC Phraseologies:

            FOLLOW (aircraft type) NOW ON BASE LEG.
            EXTEND DOWNWIND.
            WIDEN APPROACH.

VFR Holding Procedures

When it is required by traffic, VFR flights may be asked to ORBIT visually over a
geographic location, VFR checkpoint or call-up point (when these are published in the
CFS or VTA charts) until they can be cleared to the airport. If the request is not
acceptable, pilots should inform ATC and state their intentions.

Pilot:     TORONTO TOWER, CESSNA FOXTROT ALFA BRAVO CHARLIE,
            OVER PORT CREDIT AT 3 500 FEET WITH INFORMATION ROMEO.
            Tower: ALFA BRAVO CHARLIE, ORBIT THE FOUR STACKS, ANTICIPATE
            A 5 MINUTE DELAY, TRAFFIC IS A CESSNA 172 OVER THE FOUR
            STACKS, LAST REPORTED AT 2 000 FEET.

The pilot is expected to proceed to the FOUR STACKS, orbit within visual contact of
the checkpoint and be prepared to proceed to the airport immediately upon receipt of a
further clearance. Left turns are recommended as terrain and collision avoidance are
the pilot’s responsibilities.

Tower:  ALFA BRAVO CHARLIE, REPORT LEFT BASE FOR RUNWAY 24L.
             CLEARED TO THE CIRCUIT.

Pilot:     TORONTO TOWER, ALFA BRAVO CHARLIE DEPARTING THE
            FOUR STACKS AT THIS TIME FOR A LEFT BASE TO RUNWAY
            24L.