Maybe some of you have noticed that our Position and Hold (TIPH) procedures have changed this year, or maybe you just think we are weird.
The changes to these procedures affect when we are able to use TIPH. The changes also affect how and when we issue traffic advisories for aircraft holding in position on the runway. If you are holding short of the runway and wondering why you and your aircraft have not been put into Position and Hold, especially when it would seem to be most beneficial for effective traffic flow, it could be for a couple reasons.
We are unable use TIPH when:
1. The tower freq. is combined with any other freq., or
2. The tower controller is also Controller-In-Charge, or
3. An aircraft has been cleared for: a full stop, touch-and-go, stop-and-go, option, or unrestricted low approach for the same runway. Additionally, we are unable to clear an aircraft for a full stop, touch-and-go, etc., while an aircraft is holding in position on the same runway.
When we are able to use TIPH, we must inform the aircraft, authorized to Position and Hold, of the closest traffic requesting/assigned the same runway…even if the inbound aircraft that we are talking to is 15 miles out.
A single runway operation is not as involved and demanding as a crossing runway operation. When we start using crossing runways, the phraseology and traffic advisories are mandatory and multiplied.