pointSixtyFive

3-9-4

Line Up and Wait (LUAW)

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

  1. The intent of LUAW is to position aircraft for an imminent departure. Authorize an aircraft to line up and wait, except as restricted in subparagraph g, when takeoff clearances cannot be issued because of traffic. Issue traffic information to any aircraft so authorized. Traffic information may be omitted when the traffic is another aircraft which has landed on or is taking off the runway and is clearly visible to the holding aircraft. Do not use conditional phrases such as “behind landing traffic” or “after the departing aircraft.”
  2. First state the runway number followed by the line up and wait clearance.
  3. Procedures.
    1. At facilities without a safety logic system or facilities with the safety logic system in limited configuration:
      1. Do 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. Do not authorize an aircraft to LUAW if an aircraft has been cleared for a full‐stop, touch‐and‐go, stop‐and‐go, low approach, or option on the same runway.
    2. Except when reported weather conditions are less than ceiling 800 feet or visibility less than 2 miles, facilities using the safety logic system in the full core alert mode:
      1. May issue clearance 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, or
      2. May authorize an aircraft to LUAW when an aircraft has been cleared for a full‐stop, touch‐and‐go, stop‐and‐go, low approach, or option on the same runway.
  4. When an aircraft is authorized to LUAW, inform it of the closest traffic within 6 flying miles requesting a full‐stop, touch‐and‐go, stop‐and‐go, low approach, or option to the same runway.
  5. Do not authorize an aircraft to line up and wait when the departure point is not visible from the tower, unless the aircraft's position can be verified by ASDE or the runway is used for departures only.
  6. An aircraft may be authorized to line up and wait at an intersection between sunset and sunrise under the following conditions:
    1. The procedure must be approved by the appropriate Service Area Director of Air Traffic Operations.
    2. The procedure must be contained in a facility directive.
    3. The runway must be used as a departure-only runway.
    4. Only one aircraft at a time is permitted to line up and wait on the same runway.
    5. Document on FAA Form 7230-4, Daily Record of Facility Operation, the following: “LUAW at INT of RWY (number) and TWY (name) IN EFFECT” when using runway as a departure-only runway. “LUAW at INT of RWY (number) and TWY (name) SUSPENDED” when runway is not used as a departure-only runway.
  7. Do not authorize an aircraft to line up and wait at anytime when the intersection is not visible from the tower.
  8. Do not authorize aircraft to simultaneously line up and wait on the same runway, between sunrise and sunset, unless the local assist/local monitor position is staffed.
  9. USN. Do not authorize aircraft to line up and wait simultaneously on intersecting runways.
  10. When aircraft are authorized to line up and wait on runways that intersect, traffic must be exchanged between that aircraft and the aircraft that is authorized to line up and wait, depart, or arrive to the intersecting runway(s).
  11. When a local controller delivers or amends an ATC clearance to an aircraft awaiting departure and that aircraft is holding short of a runway or is holding in position on a runway, an additional clearance must be issued to prevent the possibility of the aircraft inadvertently taxiing onto the runway and/or beginning takeoff roll. In such cases, append one of the following ATC instructions as appropriate:
    1. HOLD SHORT OF RUNWAY, or
    2. HOLD IN POSITION.
  12. USAF/USN. When issuing additional instructions or information to an aircraft holding in position, include instructions to continue holding or taxi off the runway, unless it is cleared for takeoff.
  13. When authorizing an aircraft to line up and wait at an intersection, state the runway intersection.
  14. When two or more aircraft call the tower ready for departure, one or more at the full length of a runway and one or more at an intersection, state the location of the aircraft at the full length of the runway when authorizing that aircraft to line up and wait.
  15. Do not use the term “full length” when the runway length available for departure has been temporarily shortened. On permanently shortened runways, do not use the term “full length” until the Chart Supplement is updated to include the change(s).
  16. Whenever a runway length has been temporarily or permanently shortened, state the word “shortened” immediately following the runway number as part of the line up and wait clearance.
    1. The addition of “shortened” must be included in the line up and wait clearance for the duration of the construction project when the runway is temporarily shortened.
    2. The addition of “shortened” must be included in the line up and wait clearance until the Chart Supplement is updated to include the change(s) when the runway is permanently shortened.