fun with controllers at OSU

This afternoon I went out for a few laps at Ohio State. Weather was pretty
marginal, so I did 2 landings there, departed to an uncontrolled field about
12mi away for a few, then came back. I wanted to do a few more, so I was
doing t-n-g's on the north runway. Each time, the controller said 'clear for
the option'. So on one lap, I decided I wanted to practice a short field
landing. Stuck it, stopped and requested a back taxi. Nope, roll down to end
and taxi back on taxiway, then reprimanded me for stopping on the runway. He
wasn't nasty about it. 'I know you're the only one up there, but it's
baaaaaad practice...' etc.
I went through this several times when I was learning to fly there, as did
other students. Even my flight instructors would get frustrated with this
exact situation.
The airport was not at all busy. I am not arguing this guys authority or
anything, but we have to be able to practice these landings somewhere, I'm
not going to an 1500' strip out in the boonies to practice for real. I was
this close to asking the guy for the number up in the cab, but figured I
would just go home even more puzzled.
So, you controllers out there, what exactly am I cleared to do with 'cleared
for the option' that differs from 'clear for touch and go' or 'clear to
land'? Do I need to request, specifically, that I am wanting to practice a
short field, with full braking and a complete stop on the runway?

"Mike W." wrote in message ...
This afternoon I went out for a few laps at Ohio State. Weather was pretty
marginal, so I did 2 landings there, departed to an uncontrolled field about
12mi away for a few, then came back. I wanted to do a few more, so I was
doing t-n-g's on the north runway. Each time, the controller said 'clear for
the option'. So on one lap, I decided I wanted to practice a short field
landing. Stuck it, stopped and requested a back taxi. Nope, roll down to end
and taxi back on taxiway, then reprimanded me for stopping on the runway. He
wasn't nasty about it. 'I know you're the only one up there, but it's
baaaaaad practice...' etc.
I went through this several times when I was learning to fly there, as did
other students. Even my flight instructors would get frustrated with this
exact situation.
The airport was not at all busy. I am not arguing this guys authority or
anything, but we have to be able to practice these landings somewhere, I'm
not going to an 1500' strip out in the boonies to practice for real. I was
this close to asking the guy for the number up in the cab, but figured I
would just go home even more puzzled.
So, you controllers out there, what exactly am I cleared to do with 'cleared
for the option' that differs from 'clear for touch and go' or 'clear to
land'? Do I need to request, specifically, that I am wanting to practice a
short field, with full braking and a complete stop on the runway?



Just curious, you said you went to an uncontrolled field ~12 mi away. Why didn't you do this practice there?

Mike W. wrote:


The airport was not at all busy. I am not arguing this guys authority or
anything, but we have to be able to practice these landings somewhere, I'm
not going to an 1500' strip out in the boonies to practice for real. I was
this close to asking the guy for the number up in the cab, but figured I
would just go home even more puzzled.

You should have, he was wrong.


So, you controllers out there, what exactly am I cleared to do with 'cleared
for the option' that differs from 'clear for touch and go' or 'clear to
land'? Do I need to request, specifically, that I am wanting to practice a
short field, with full braking and a complete stop on the runway?

A stop and go is one of your options is he doesn't specifically tell you
no stop and go's. We have an instructor here that will ask for options
and then have his student fly the length of our 2 mile runway at about 3
agl. In that 2 miles the student may touch the runway 5 or 6 times.
The instructor just can't understand why this is a problem.

Uncontrolled field has standard (left) traffic pattern. The airport I fly
out of has 9R-27L (main runway) and 9L-27R, which gets used a lot for
training, has right traffic (27R). I wanted a few more landings, I like to
mix up left-right, I think it is beneficial as the pattern 'looks' a little
different, L vs R.

" Blueskies" wrote in message
...

Just curious, you said you went to an uncontrolled field ~12 mi away. Why
didn't you do this practice there?

In article , Mike W.
wrote:

This afternoon I went out for a few laps at Ohio State. ...[Tower] said 'clear for
the option'. So on one lap, I decided I wanted to practice a short field
landing. Stuck it, stopped and requested a back taxi. Nope, roll down to end
and taxi back on taxiway, then reprimanded me for stopping on the runway...
The airport was not at all busy. I am not arguing this guys authority... I was
this close to asking the guy for the number up in the cab....

I'm sure he'd have been happy to give it to you. Sometimes what you're
expecting and what ATC is expecting can be quite different, and I'm
sure he'd have been happy to rationally explain it.

So, you controllers out there, what exactly am I cleared to do with 'cleared
for the option' that differs from 'clear for touch and go' or 'clear to
land'? Do I need to request, specifically, that I am wanting to practice a
short field, with full braking and a complete stop on the runway?

That isn't what you asked for. You asked for a back-taxi on the active
runway, and that's something completely different. A stop-and-go means
you stop, and then GO. Not turn around, saunter back, line back up,
etc...

The AIM lists what you're specifically allowed to do on a

http://www.faa.gov/ATpubs/AIM/Chap4/aim0403.html#4-3-22

4-3-22. Option Approach

The "Cleared for the Option" procedure will permit an instructor,
flight examiner or pilot the option to make a touch-and-go, low
approach, missed approach, stop-and-go, or full stop landing.



Also, relating to the full-stop landing above:

4-3-20. Exiting the Runway After Landing
The following procedures should be followed after landing and reaching
taxi speed.
a. Exit the runway without delay at the first available taxiway or on a
taxiway as instructed by ATC. Pilots shall not exit the landing runway
onto another runway unless authorized by ATC. At airports with an
operating control tower, pilots should not stop OR REVERSE COURSE on
the runway without first obtaining ATC approval.


So there you go. :-)

Hope that helps.

--
Garner R. Miller
ATP/CFII/MEI
Clifton Park, NY =USA=

OK, I'll bite. Why is this a probem?

"Newps" wrote in message
...
We have an instructor here that will ask for options
and then have his student fly the length of our 2 mile runway at about 3
agl. In that 2 miles the student may touch the runway 5 or 6 times.
The instructor just can't understand why this is a problem.

According to the Pilot/Controller Glossary, you were right and the
controller was wrong. You might want to talk to a quality control person at
OSU.

Bob Gardner

"Mike W." wrote in message
...
This afternoon I went out for a few laps at Ohio State. Weather was pretty
marginal, so I did 2 landings there, departed to an uncontrolled field
about
12mi away for a few, then came back. I wanted to do a few more, so I was
doing t-n-g's on the north runway. Each time, the controller said 'clear
for
the option'. So on one lap, I decided I wanted to practice a short field
landing. Stuck it, stopped and requested a back taxi. Nope, roll down to
end
and taxi back on taxiway, then reprimanded me for stopping on the runway.
He
wasn't nasty about it. 'I know you're the only one up there, but it's
baaaaaad practice...' etc.
I went through this several times when I was learning to fly there, as did
other students. Even my flight instructors would get frustrated with this
exact situation.
The airport was not at all busy. I am not arguing this guys authority or
anything, but we have to be able to practice these landings somewhere, I'm
not going to an 1500' strip out in the boonies to practice for real. I
was
this close to asking the guy for the number up in the cab, but figured
I
would just go home even more puzzled.
So, you controllers out there, what exactly am I cleared to do with
'cleared
for the option' that differs from 'clear for touch and go' or 'clear to
land'? Do I need to request, specifically, that I am wanting to practice a
short field, with full braking and a complete stop on the runway?

In article , Bob Gardner
wrote:

According to the Pilot/Controller Glossary, you were right and the
controller was wrong. You might want to talk to a quality control person at
OSU.

How do you figure?

From the P/CG:

"OPTION APPROACH- An approach requested and conducted by a pilot which
will result in either a touch-and-go, missed approach, low approach,
stop- and-go, or full stop landing."

Says the same thing the AIM says. A back-taxi is not on the above list.

--
Garner R. Miller
ATP/CFII/MEI
Clifton Park, NY =USA=

"Mike W." wrote in message
...
Uncontrolled field has standard (left) traffic pattern.

Non-towered field...just announce that you are making right traffic...no
tower, no active runway.

Stephen

"Mike W." wrote in message
...

This afternoon I went out for a few laps at Ohio State. Weather was pretty
marginal, so I did 2 landings there, departed to an uncontrolled field
about
12mi away for a few, then came back. I wanted to do a few more, so I was
doing t-n-g's on the north runway. Each time, the controller said 'clear
for
the option'. So on one lap, I decided I wanted to practice a short field
landing. Stuck it, stopped and requested a back taxi. Nope, roll down to
end
and taxi back on taxiway, then reprimanded me for stopping on the runway.
He
wasn't nasty about it. 'I know you're the only one up there, but it's
baaaaaad practice...' etc.
I went through this several times when I was learning to fly there, as did
other students. Even my flight instructors would get frustrated with this
exact situation.
The airport was not at all busy. I am not arguing this guys authority or
anything, but we have to be able to practice these landings somewhere, I'm
not going to an 1500' strip out in the boonies to practice for real. I
was
this close to asking the guy for the number up in the cab, but figured
I
would just go home even more puzzled.
So, you controllers out there, what exactly am I cleared to do with
'cleared
for the option' that differs from 'clear for touch and go' or 'clear to
land'? Do I need to request, specifically, that I am wanting to practice a
short field, with full braking and a complete stop on the runway?


What you did was covered under "cleared for the option".