3-10-5

Landing Clearance

JO 7110.65BB, Change 3, effective July 9, 2026 · Official text on faa.gov

When issuing a clearance to land, first state the runway number followed by the landing clearance.
Phraseology

RUNWAY (number) CLEARED TO LAND.
USA/USAF/USN NOT APPLICABLE. When issuing a clearance to land and hold short in accordance with FAA Order JO 7110.118, Land and Hold Short Operations (LAHSO), exchange traffic information as necessary. Request a read back of hold short instructions when not received.
Note
1. Pilots who prefer to use the full length of the runway or a runway different from that specified are expected to advise ATC prior to landing.
2. Pilots may not be able to accept a LAHSO clearance when their aircraft is less than 1,000 feet AGL.
Phraseology

RUNWAY (number) CLEARED TO LAND, HOLD SHORT OF RUNWAY (number)/TAXIWAY (taxiway)/(approach/departure path)/POINT (predetermined point), (traffic, type aircraft, or other information).
Or
READ BACK HOLD SHORT INSTRUCTIONS.
Example
1. “Runway 7 Left, cleared to land, hold short of taxiway Whiskey, traffic crossing downfield.”
  Or (if hold short instructions are not read back with the landing clearance)
  “Read back hold short instructions.”
2. “Runway one eight cleared to land, hold short of runway one four left, traffic, (type aircraft) landing runway one four left.”
3. “Runway one six cleared to land, hold short of runway seven left, traffic, (type aircraft) departing runway seven left.”
If the landing runway is changed, preface the landing clearance with “change to runway” followed by the runway number. Restate the runway number followed by the landing clearance.
Phraseology

CHANGE TO RUNWAY (number), RUNWAY (number) CLEARED TO LAND.

Note

The purpose of the “change to runway” phraseology and restating the runway number is to emphasize to the pilot that they are being cleared to land on a runway other than what they were expecting.
When you become aware that an aircraft is aligned with the wrong surface, inform the pilot and:
1. Issue control instructions/clearances, or
  Example
  
  “United four twenty three, go‐around, you appear to be aligned with the wrong runway.”
  “American sixty three, go‐around, you appear to be aligned with a taxiway.”
  “Southwest two thirty nine, you appear to be aligned with Runway 27 Left (pertinent information), Runway 27 Left, cleared to land.”
2. If time permits, verify the pilot is aligned with the correct runway. Issue control instructions/clearances as necessary.
  Example
  
  “Twin Cessna four one four lima bravo, verify you are aligned with Runway 27 Left.”
  
  Reference
  
  FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 3-6-4, Safety Logic Alert Responses.
  FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 3-10-8, Withholding Landing Clearance.
  FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 5-14-9, Approach Runway Verification (ARV).
Procedures.
1. Facilities without a safety logic system or facilities with the safety logic system inoperative or in the limited configuration must not clear an aircraft for a full‐stop, touch‐and‐go, stop‐and‐go, low approach, or option on the same runway with an aircraft holding in position or taxiing to LUAW until the aircraft in position has exited the runway or starts takeoff roll.
2. Facilities using safety logic in the full core alert runway configuration may clear an aircraft for a full‐stop, touch‐and‐go, stop‐and‐go, low approach, or option on the same runway with an aircraft holding in position or taxiing to LUAW except when reported weather conditions are less than ceiling 800 feet or visibility less than 2 miles.
Inform the closest aircraft that is requesting a full‐stop, touch‐and‐go, stop‐and‐go, low approach, or option when there is traffic authorized to LUAW on the same runway.
Example

“Delta One, Runway One‐Eight, continue, traffic holding in position.”
“Delta One, Runway One‐Eight, cleared to land. Traffic holding in position.”
“Twin Cessna Four Four Golf, Runway One‐Niner base approved, traffic holding in position."
“Baron Two Five Foxtrot, Runway One-Niner Right extend downwind, tower will call your base, traffic holding in position."
USA/USN/USAF. Issue runway identifier along with surface wind when clearing an aircraft to land, touch and go, stop and go, low approach, or the option.
Phraseology

RUNWAY (number), WIND (surface wind direction and velocity), CLEARED TO LAND.

Note

A clearance to land means that appropriate separation on the landing runway will be ensured. A landing clearance does not relieve the pilot from compliance with any previously issued restriction.
Whenever a runway length has been temporarily or permanently shortened, state the word “shortened” immediately following the runway number as part of the landing clearance. This information must be issued in conjunction with the landing clearance.
1. The addition of “shortened” must be included in the landing clearance for the duration of the construction project when the runway is temporarily shortened.
2. The addition of “shortened” must be included in the landing clearance until the Chart Supplement is updated to include the change(s) when the runway is permanently shortened.
  Phraseology
  
  RUNWAY (number) SHORTENED, CLEARED TO LAND.
  
  Example
  
  “Runway Two-Seven shortened, cleared to land.”
If landing clearance is temporarily withheld, insert the word “shortened” immediately after the runway number to advise the pilot to continue.
Phraseology

RUNWAY (number) SHORTENED, CONTINUE.

Example

“Runway Two-Seven shortened, continue.”

Reference

FAA Order JO 7210.3, Para 10-3-12, Airport Construction.
FAA Order JO 7210.3, Para 10-3-13, Change in Runway Length Due to Construction.