What are you cleared for?

1) "Cleared to land"

Unless you're practicing landings in the pattern, "cleared to land" is what you hear most often from tower. And when you do, it means you're authorized to use the entire landing length of the runway, and you should disregard any holding position markings located on the runway.

2) "Cleared to land, hold short of XX"

When ATC clears you to land, but tells you to hold short of an intersecting runway, you have two options after you touch down. 1) exit the runway prior to the hold short line, or 2) stop prior the holding position on the runway.

3) "Cleared touch-and-go"

If you're in training, or just trying improve your landings, you've heard this one a lot. When you're "cleared touch-and-go", you can touch down and take off again, without stopping or exiting the runway.

4) "Cleared stop-and-go"

If you need a few seconds to reconfigure the airplane, prepare for your next takeoff, or if you're getting your night currency in, stop-and-go is what you'll need. When you're "cleared stop-and-go", you can touch down, bring your aircraft to a complete stop, and take off again without exiting the runway.

You never want to rush yourself on a stop-an-go, but you do want to keep in mind that tower might have an aircraft behind you that's landing. Don't turn this one into a "camp-and-go" (e.g. spending way too much time on the runway).

5) "Cleared for the option"

Looking for the most choices you can get from a tower controller? Than this one is for you! When you're "cleared for the option", you can pretty much do it all. ATC authorizes you for a touch-and-go, stop-and-go, low approach, missed approach, or a full stop landing.

So when would you use this? It's really useful in training, especially if you're not sure what maneuver you're going to need (If you grease your landing, you might call it quits. But if you bounce it, you might want to try another landing.)

But when ATC does give you the option, keep in mind that you should tell them your intentions as soon as you can, so they can plan on how to handle the traffic around you.

Improve your landings for less than the cost of a flight lesson.

Do you have a perfect takeoff and landing every time? Neither do we. That's why we built our Mastering Takeoffs and Landings online course.

You'll learn strategies, tactics, and fundamental principles that you can use on your next flight, and just about any takeoff or landing scenario you'll experience as a pilot.

Plus, for less than the cost of a flight lesson, you get lifetime access to tools that increase your confidence and make your landings more consistent.

Ready to get started? Click here to purchase Mastering Takeoffs and Landings now.