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Tower/Ground Instructions ​

Complete reference for tower and ground ATC instructions in radarcontrol.io.

BETA

Tower mode is currently in beta. Some features may be incomplete or change in future updates.

Looking for approach/center mode?

For en-route and approach instructions (altitude, speed, heading, ILS), see the Approach/Center instructions.

Overview ​

Tower mode lets you manage aircraft on airport surfaces - from gate to takeoff and from landing to gate. Guide aircraft through pushback, taxi, runway operations, and parking. Instructions follow the format:

CALLSIGN instruction [parameters]

Getting started ​

Select Tower from the airspace selector dropdown, then choose an airport. Tower mode is available for 300+ airports worldwide.

Interactive mode only

Tower mode currently only supports interactive mode. Scripting support is planned for a future update.

You can also go directly to an airport using the URL:

https://radarcontrol.io/#map=ground:kjfk
https://radarcontrol.io/#map=ground:klax

Aircraft phases ​

Departures ​

Departing aircraft follow this sequence:

  1. Boarding - Aircraft at gate, waiting for passengers
  2. Pushback request - Pilot requests to push back - approve with pb instruction
  3. Pushback - Aircraft backs away from gate
  4. Taxi request - Pilot ready to taxi - issue taxi instruction to assign runway
  5. Taxi out - Aircraft taxiing to runway
  6. Hold short - Waiting at runway - issue luaw to line up or cross to cross
  7. Lineup - On runway, waiting - issue cto for takeoff clearance
  8. Takeoff - Aircraft departing

Arrivals ​

Arriving aircraft follow this sequence:

  1. Approach - Aircraft on approach, visible on radar with distance indicator
  2. Short final - Less than 3nm from runway
  3. Landing - Touching down and decelerating
  4. Vacating - Exiting the runway
  5. Taxi request - Pilot ready for gate assignment - issue gate instruction
  6. Taxi in - Aircraft taxiing to gate
  7. Arrived - At gate, complete

Ground instructions ​

Instructions for managing aircraft on taxiways and at gates.

Pushback ​

Approve pushback from gate. Optionally specify which direction to face after pushback.

Syntax:

  • pb - Approve pushback (aircraft chooses direction)
  • pb [DIRECTION] - Approve pushback facing compass direction
  • pb [HEADING] - Approve pushback facing specific heading

Directions: north, south, east, west, ne, nw, se, sw

Examples:

DAL123 pb              # Approve pushback
DAL123 pb west         # Face west after pushback
DAL123 pb 270          # Face heading 270
DAL123 pb ne           # Face northeast after pushback

When to specify direction

Specify a direction when you want the aircraft to face a particular way for efficient taxi routing. For example, if the runway is to the west, pb west puts the aircraft in position to taxi directly.

Taxi ​

Issue taxi clearance to a runway or location. Optionally specify the route via taxiways.

Syntax:

  • taxi [RUNWAY] - Taxi to runway
  • taxi [RUNWAY] [TAXIWAY] [TAXIWAY] ... - Taxi to runway via specific taxiways
  • taxi [GATE] - Taxi to gate (for arrivals)

Examples:

DAL123 taxi 22L        # Taxi to runway 22L
DAL123 taxi 22L A K    # Taxi via taxiways A and K
UAL456 taxi B12        # Taxi to gate B12 (for arrivals)
DAL123 taxi 4R M B     # Taxi via taxiways M and B to runway 4R

Taxiway routing

If no taxiways are specified, the aircraft will choose the shortest path. Specify taxiways when you need to control the route for traffic management or conflict avoidance.

Gate assignment ​

Assign a gate to arriving aircraft. This also issues the taxi clearance.

Syntax:

  • gate [GATE] - Assign gate and taxi

Examples:

UAL456 gate A1         # Taxi to gate A1
DAL789 gate B24        # Taxi to gate B24
SWA321 gate C12        # Taxi to gate C12

Hold position ​

Stop aircraft immediately wherever they are.

Syntax:

  • hp - Hold position
  • hold - Hold position (alias)

Examples:

DAL123 hp              # Hold position immediately
UAL456 hold            # Hold position

TIP

Use hold position to prevent conflicts, stop an aircraft before a runway incursion, or pause movement while coordinating with other traffic.

Continue taxi ​

Resume movement after holding.

Syntax:

  • ct - Continue taxi
  • continue - Continue taxi (alias)

Examples:

DAL123 ct              # Continue taxi
UAL456 continue        # Continue taxi

Tower instructions ​

Instructions for managing runway operations.

Hold short ​

Instruct aircraft to hold short of a runway. The aircraft will stop before the runway hold line.

Syntax:

  • hs [RUNWAY] - Hold short of runway

Examples:

DAL123 hs 22L          # Hold short of runway 22L
UAL456 hs 4R           # Hold short of runway 4R
SWA321 hs 13L          # Hold short of runway 13L

TIP

Aircraft automatically hold short when they reach a runway during taxi. Use this instruction to explicitly require a hold short when issuing crossing or other clearances.

Cross runway ​

Clear aircraft to cross a runway. The aircraft must be holding short.

Syntax:

  • cross [RUNWAY] - Cross runway
  • x [RUNWAY] - Cross runway (short form)

Examples:

DAL123 cross 13R       # Cross runway 13R
UAL456 x 22L           # Cross runway 22L
SWA321 cross 4L        # Cross runway 4L

DANGER

Ensure the runway is clear before issuing crossing clearance. Check for landing and departing traffic on that runway.

Line up and wait ​

Instruct aircraft to enter the runway and hold in position for takeoff clearance.

Syntax:

  • luaw [RUNWAY] - Line up and wait
  • lineup [RUNWAY] - Line up and wait (alias)

Examples:

DAL123 luaw 22L        # Line up and wait on runway 22L
UAL456 lineup 4R       # Line up and wait on runway 4R

INFO

Line up and wait is used to position an aircraft on the runway while waiting for traffic to clear. The aircraft will hold until you issue a takeoff clearance.

Cleared for takeoff ​

Issue takeoff clearance. Aircraft must be on the runway (after line up and wait, or can be combined).

Syntax:

  • cto [RUNWAY] - Cleared for takeoff
  • takeoff [RUNWAY] - Cleared for takeoff (alias)
  • to [RUNWAY] - Cleared for takeoff (short form)

Examples:

DAL123 cto 22L         # Cleared for takeoff runway 22L
UAL456 takeoff 4R      # Cleared for takeoff runway 4R
SWA321 to 13L          # Cleared for takeoff runway 13L

DANGER

Ensure the runway is clear before issuing takeoff clearance. Collisions will occur if another aircraft is on the runway.

Cleared to land ​

Issue landing clearance to aircraft on approach.

Syntax:

  • cld [RUNWAY] - Cleared to land
  • land [RUNWAY] - Cleared to land (alias)

Examples:

UAL456 cld 22L         # Cleared to land runway 22L
DAL789 land 4R         # Cleared to land runway 4R
SWA321 cld 13L         # Cleared to land runway 13L

INFO

Aircraft on approach will continue regardless of landing clearance, but issuing the clearance is part of realistic ATC operations.

Go around ​

Instruct aircraft on approach to abort landing and climb.

Syntax:

  • ga - Go around

Examples:

UAL456 ga              # Go around
DAL789 ga              # Go around

TIP

Use go around when:

  • The runway is not clear
  • There's a conflict with departing traffic
  • Wake turbulence spacing is insufficient
  • Weather or visibility requires it

Reject takeoff (RTO) ​

Instruct aircraft to abort takeoff. Only works before the aircraft has rotated.

Syntax:

  • rto - Reject takeoff
  • stop - Reject takeoff (alias)

Examples:

DAL123 rto             # Reject takeoff
DAL123 stop            # Reject takeoff

WARNING

RTO only works during the takeoff roll before the aircraft lifts off. Once airborne, use different instructions.

Quick reference ​

GROUND INSTRUCTIONS
  pb                    Approve pushback
  pb west / pb 270      Pushback facing direction
  taxi 22L              Taxi to runway
  taxi 22L A K          Taxi via taxiways A, K
  gate A1               Taxi to gate (arrivals)
  hp, hold              Hold position
  ct, continue          Continue taxi

TOWER INSTRUCTIONS
  hs 22L                Hold short of runway
  cross 13R, x 13R      Cross runway
  luaw 22L, lineup 22L  Line up and wait
  cto 22L, takeoff 22L  Cleared for takeoff
  cld 22L, land 22L     Cleared to land
  ga                    Go around
  rto, stop             Reject takeoff

EXAMPLES
  DAL123 pb west taxi 22L     # Pushback facing west, then taxi to 22L
  UAL456 cross 13R            # Cross runway 13R
  SWA321 luaw 22L             # Line up and wait
  DAL123 cto 22L              # Cleared for takeoff
  UAL456 gate A15             # Taxi to gate A15

The interface ​

Aircraft list ​

The sidebar shows all aircraft grouped into Departures and Arrivals. Each card displays:

  • Callsign and aircraft type
  • Current phase (color-coded)
  • Gate or runway assignment
  • Quick action buttons when applicable

Click an aircraft to select it. The radar will highlight the aircraft and you can type instructions for it directly. Double-click to pan the radar to that aircraft.

Quick actions ​

Buttons appear on aircraft cards when they need your attention:

SituationButtonWhat it does
Requesting pushbackApproveApproves pushback
Ready to taxi (departure)Taxi [RWY]Taxi to departure runway
Ready to taxi (arrival)Taxi [GATE]Taxi to assigned gate
Holding shortLine upLine up and wait
Holding short (wrong runway)Cross [RWY]Cross the runway
Lined upTakeoffCleared for takeoff
On approachClear to landCleared to land

Runway status overlay ​

Click the runway button in the bottom-left corner to see the current runway status:

  • Departure queue - Aircraft lined up or holding short for departure
  • Arrival sequence - Aircraft on approach for landing
  • Runway occupancy - Shows if the runway is occupied by landing, departing, or crossing traffic

Radar display ​

The radar shows:

  • Runways - Labeled gray areas
  • Taxiways - Yellow lines
  • Gates - Small squares at terminals
  • Aircraft - Moving icons with callsigns
  • Hold short markers - Yellow bars before runways
  • Taxi routes - Highlighted path for selected aircraft

Controls ​

  • Traffic intensity (0-100%): How often new aircraft appear
  • Sim speed (0.25x - 32x): Simulation speed

Your settings are saved automatically for each airport.

Tips ​

Runway safety ​

  • Always check the runway is clear before issuing lineup or takeoff
  • Aircraft vacating the runway still occupy it until fully clear
  • Aircraft crossing the runway also occupy it
  • Use hold short instructions when needed
  • Landing aircraft can be on the runway while you issue line up and wait to the next departure

Managing traffic ​

  • Approve pushbacks promptly to avoid delays
  • Plan taxi routes to prevent conflicts at intersections
  • Don't line up the next aircraft until the previous one has departed or is clearing
  • Use the runway status overlay to see the sequence

Arrivals ​

  • Arrivals reserve their gate when they appear on approach
  • Departures can still spawn at reserved gates (the arrival will wait)
  • If no gates are available, no new arrivals will spawn
  • Issue the gate instruction promptly after aircraft vacate to keep traffic flowing

Avoiding collisions ​

Collisions occur when aircraft get too close to each other. Prevent them by:

  • Proper sequencing of runway operations
  • Using hold short instructions
  • Monitoring runway occupancy before issuing clearances
  • Checking for crossing traffic before clearing runway crossings