MOORABBIN CLASS D RADIO PHRASEOLOGY AND PROCEDURES

Important notes.
The information in this document does not contain all relevant details for operation in Moorabbin class D airspace.
Refer to AIP/Jeppesen, ERSA, aeronautical charts and NOTAMS for detailed operational information.

Class D ATC do not provide a separation service for VFR aircraft. ATC provides traffic information and sequencing
instructions to manage the high density traffic flow into and out of the control zone.
The Pilot in Command of a VFR aircraft is responsible for separation from other aircraft, that is, to see and avoid
other aircraft. Special provisions apply to approved Special VFR flights in conditions of reduced visibility.

Moorabbin frequencies:
ATIS Moorabbin ATIS 120.9 (or 398 ADF)
SMC Moorabbin Ground 119.9 (Re-transmitted on 135.7 outside tower hours)
TWR Moorabbin Tower (East) 118.1
Moorabbin Tower (West) 123.0
Beyond 3 nm from Moorabbin:
FIA Melbourne CENTRE 135.7

Departures
Reporting for start approval and taxi clearance
Start clearance is required for circuit operations and non-standard operations within the Moorabbin control zone. See
ERSA.

Listen to ATIS before commencing taxi.

Maintain listening watch on Moorabbin ground frequency at all times when operating on the movement area
(manoeuvring and apron areas.)

Clearance is required to enter the manoeuvring area. Obtain a taxi clearance if taxiway A is required to be used to taxi
to the run-up bays.

An explicit directed clearance is required to: cross, enter, line-up, backtrack, hold or take-off from a runway.

Give way to aircraft on an approach to land when taxiing through the undershoot area of a runway.

Give way to aircraft as you are required to do so.

Do not accept right of way if a risk of collision exists.

Look out in both directions before entering a runway and do not enter or cross a runway if a risk of collision exists.

Display strobe lights before entering a runway.

• Pilot reporting for start approval: “Moorabbin ground, (aircraft type) [callsign] received (ATIS code), request
start for circuits”
• ATC instruction: “[Callsign] Moorabbin ground, start approved runway (number left/right)”
• Pilot reporting for taxi clearance: “Moorabbin ground, (aircraft type) [callsign] received (ATIS code),
(student solo) the Southern/Northern run-up bay for the training area/circuits, runway (number left/right),
request taxi.”
• ATC instruction: “[Callsign] Moorabbin ground, on (taxiway designator) cross runway (number left/right)
etc., taxi to holding point (taxiway designator), runway (number left/right)”
• Pilot readback: “On (taxiway designator), crossing (number left/right) etc., taxiing holding point (taxiway
designator) runway (number left/right), [callsign]”

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Ready report
Stop short of the holding point and gable markers of the runway until issued with a clearance to line-up or take-off.
Position the aircraft to afford a clear view of the approach path.

Do not enter the runway if a risk of collision exists.

Squawk code 3000 on mode C (ALT)

 Pilot reporting ready for departure: “Moorabbin tower, [call-sign] (circuit leg for departure) for the training
area/circuits, (student solo), ready (holding point designator) runway (number left/right)”
 ATC instruction: “[Callsign] Moorabbin tower, hold position/line up/cleared for take-off”
 Pilot readback: “Holding position/lining up/cleared for take-off, [callsign]”

If the runway number left/right is included in a clearance or instruction it must be included in the pilot’s readback.

Display strobe lights before entering the runway.

Do not hold on the runway before take-off unless approved to by ATC.

Do not back-track on the runway before take-off unless approved to by ATC.

Depart on the nominated leg of the circuit and climb to 2000 feet or higher, cloud permitting. Do not climb above
2500 within 3 nm of Moorabbin.

Comply with the special upwind departure procedure for 17 right. Turn left south of Woodland Golf Course to follow
the coast and remain over land, until abeam Carrum to avoid inbound traffic. See ERSA.

Depart on crosswind for runway 17 left to avoid conflict with 17 right departures.

Depart on extended downwind (over water) for runway 35 left.

Comply with noise abatement procedures. Maintain upwind runway 17 right until South of Woodland Golf Course
departing to the North or to the West. Maintain upwind runway 31 left until over the Kingston Centre. See ERSA.

At 6 nm Squawk code 1200 on mode C (ALT.) (Please note this is MFT recommended procedure only)

Maintain listening watch on Moorabbin Tower frequency until 6 nm. Maintain listening watch on Melbourne Centre
135.7 as early as is practical.

Avoid departure tracks that conflict with VFR approach and reporting points.

Arrivals
Inbound report
Proceed to recommended VFR reporting point at 1500 feet, cloud permitting.

If special VFR is required, include “request special VFR due cloud/visibility/cloud and visibility” in the inbound report.

Comply with the special joining procedures from Carrum when runway 17 or 35 is active. Remain over water until
established in the western circuit.

Pilots must give a down-wind report when starting down-wind leg. The down-wind report should normally be given in
the position where an aircraft would normally turn onto down-wind during circuit operations. AIP ENR 1.1 14.4

If frequency congestion prevents the downwind report from being made starting downwind leg, you must report mid-
downwind or late-downwind as appropriate.

Squawk code 3000 on mode C (ALT)

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  Pilot reporting inbound: “Moorabbin tower, (aircraft type) [callsign], (reporting point) (altitude) received
(ATIS code), (student solo) inbound (for circuits)”
 ATC instruction: “[Call sign] Moorabbin tower, join (leg of circuit) runway (number left/right), report
(reporting point)”
 Pilot readback: “(Runway number left/right), [callsign]”

Enter the Moorabbin Control Zone, 3 nm Moorabbin, at 1000 feet altitude

You may not be given a clearance

If you cannot establish two-way communications with ATC, or you receive an instruction to remain outside class D
airspace, do not enter the class D control zone until a clearance is received.

 ATC instruction: “[Callsign] Moorabbin Tower, remain outside class D airspace, call me again in 2 minutes”
 Pilot readback: “Remaining outside class D, [callsign]”

Overfly instruction

 ATC instruction: “[Callsign] Moorabbin tower, maintain 1500 over-fly the field for runway (number
left/right), contact tower (frequency) overhead”
 Pilot readback: “1500 (runway number left/right) (frequency), [callsign]”

Maintain 1500, over-fly the center of the field and report overhead on the frequency given.

 Pilot reporting overhead: “Moorabbin tower, [callsign] overhead”

Upwind join

 ATC instruction: “[Callsign] Moorabbin tower, maintain 1500 join upwind runway (number left/right), report
joining upwind”
 Pilot readback: “1500 (runway number left/right), [callsign]”

Maintain 1500, Join upwind and report joining upwind. Caution: do not drift into the opposite circuit.

 Pilot reporting upwind: “Moorabbin tower, [callsign] upwind”

From overhead you will be Cleared Visual Approach and issued circuit joining instructions.

Do not commence descent until you have been Cleared Visual Approach.

Report joining downwind. If frequency congestion prevents the downwind report from being made mid-downwind
you must report late-downwind as appropriate.

 ATC instruction: “[Callsign] Moorabbin tower, follow the (aircraft type) (position), cleared visual approach,
left/right downwind for runway (number left/right)”
 Pilot readback: “Cleared visual approach left/right downwind, (runway number left/right), [callsign]”
 Pilot reporting downwind: “[Callsign] mid/late downwind”

Abbreviated clearances
Acknowledgement by ATC with your call sign establishes two-way communication with ATC. This is a clearance to
enter the control zone at circuit height and to join the appropriate leg of the circuit for an approach to land on the
ATIS nominated runway in use.

Pilots must give a down-wind report if joining the circuit on down-wind leg. If frequency congestion prevents the
downwind report from being made starting downwind leg, you must report mid-downwind or late-downwind as
appropriate.

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  Pilot reporting downwind: “[Callsign] joining/mid-/late- downwind”

Landing clearance
Do not land unless you have been cleared to land.

If a landing clearance has not been issued or it is not safe to land, commence a go-round procedure at once.

Pilot initiated go-round

 Pilot reporting going around: “[Callsign] going-round”

Accepting a go-round instruction or a landing clearance

 ATC instruction: “[Callsign] go-round/cleared to land/touch and go”

 Pilot readback: “Going-round/cleared to land/cleared touch and go, [callsign]”

If the runway number left/right is included in a clearance or instruction it must be included in the pilot’s readback.

A go-round requires the pilot to commence a climb immediately, track clear of other traffic, position the aircraft onto
the live side and parallel to the runway and re-join the circuit from the up-wind leg.

After landing, promptly vacate the runway when it is safe to do so.

Do not hold on the runway after landing unless approved to by ATC.

Do not back-track on the runway after landing unless approved to by ATC.

A landing clearance is a clearance to land on a nominated runway and to cross any runways that intersect the landing
runway.

Exiting the runway onto a non-active runway

Do not exit the active runway onto a non-active runway unless instructed or a request by a pilot to exit onto a non-
active runway has been approved by ATC.

 ATC instruction: [Callsign] take runway (number left/right)

 Pilot readback: [Callsign] runway (number left/right)

 Pilot request: [Callsign] request runway (number left/right)

 ATC instruction: [Callsign] take runway (number left/right)

Obtaining a taxi clearance after landing to MFT parking

After landing, exit the runway on the first available taxiway after slowing to a safe speed, taxi clear of the runway,
past the holding point lines and gable markers. Consider taxiing beyond the holding point line sufficient distance to
permit following aircraft to taxi clear of the runway behind you.

 Pilot reporting for taxi clearance after landing: “Moorabbin ground, [callsign] on taxiway (designator) for
tower parking, request taxi”

If exiting onto a non-active runway

 Pilot reporting for taxi clearance after landing: “Moorabbin ground, [callsign] on runway (number left/right)
for tower parking, request taxi”

If a taxi limit is imposed

 ATC instruction: “[Callsign] Moorabbin ground, on taxiway (designator) hold short of runway (number
left/right)”
 Pilot readback: “Taxiway (designator) holding short of runway (number left/right), [callsign]”

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If no taxi limit is imposed

 ATC instruction: “[Callsign] Moorabbin ground, on taxiway (designator) cross runway (number left/right)
etc., taxi to the apron”
 Pilot readback: “On taxiway (designator) crossing runway (number left/right) etc., to the apron, [callsign]”

Look out in both directions before entering a runway.

Do not enter or cross a runway if a risk of collision exists.

Display strobe lights before entering a runway.

Flying the Circuit

Report turning downwind with intentions. See ERSA.

• Pilot reporting downwind: “[Callsign] turning downwind touch & go/ full-stop/ request the option”
• ATC instruction: “[Callsign] no. 1,2,3 etc…follow the (a/c type) (position in the circuit)”
• Pilot readback: “[Callsign]”

If frequency congestion prevents the downwind report from being made starting downwind leg, you must report mid-
downwind or late-downwind as appropriate.

Communication difficulties
If you have not clearly received an instruction from ATC, request the controller to repeat the instruction. Include the
phrase “more slowly” if required.

• Pilot requesting ATC to repeat instruction: “[Callsign] say again (more slowly)”

If you do not understand an ATC instruction or are unable to comply with an instruction, inform ATC immediately. Use
the word “confirm” to seek clarification on an instruction. Use the word “unable” to indicate that you are unable to
comply with an instruction.

If you have been given traffic to follow or to give way to, allow time to locate the traffic before reporting that it has
not been sighted. Use the words “negative traffic” or “traffic not sighted” if you cannot see the traffic you have been
instructed to follow or to give way to.

Resources and educational material available to pilots

Airservices Australia Homepage; Pilot and Airside Safety contains useful information.

Operating in Class D airspace

http://www.airservicesaustralia.com/wp-content/uploads/Safety-Net-Operating-in-Class-D-Airspace.pdf

Avoiding Runway Incursions

Pilots guide to runway safety booklet
http://www.airservicesaustralia.com/wp-content/uploads/Pilots_Guide_to_Runway_Safety.pdf

Tips to avoid runway incursions

http://www.airservicesaustralia.com/wp-content/uploads/Tips-to-avoid-runway-incursion.pdf

Moorabbin aerodrome runway incursion hot spots

http://www.airservicesaustralia.com/wp-content/uploads/runway_incursion_hotspots_moorabbin.pdf

Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA); Visual Pilot Guides, ON-Track

https://www.casa.gov.au/education/standard-page/ontrack

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Guide Only - Not for Operational Use