Ground Control

Definition

Ground Control is a dedicated air traffic control (ATC) service responsible for managing all non-runway aircraft movements on the aerodrome surface. This includes taxiing to and from parking stands, aprons, hangars, and holding points — but not takeoffs or landings, which fall under Tower Control. Ground Control operates on a separate radio frequency (often called Ground Frequency) and coordinates closely with Tower, Apron, and other airport services.

Primary Responsibilities

Issuing taxi clearances
Managing aircraft movement on taxiways and aprons
Coordinating pushback clearances (at larger airports)
Preventing taxiway congestion or conflicts
Coordinating vehicle movement on maneuvering areas
Assigning holding points before runway entry

Phraseology Examples

“D-EABC, taxi to holding point runway 27 via Alpha and Bravo”
“Taxi to stand 5 via Echo and Apron North”
“Hold short of runway 16”
“Contact Tower on 118.300 when ready”

Typical Ground Frequency Use

Before departure: After startup clearance (if applicable), the pilot contacts Ground for taxi instructions
After landing: Pilot switches to Ground when instructed by Tower (e.g., “Contact Ground on 121.9”)

Ground Control vs. Tower

Aspect	Ground Control	Tower Control
Area	Taxiways, apron, stands	Runway and airspace immediately around the field
Role	Taxi and parking coordination	Takeoff, landing, go-arounds
Clearance type	Taxi clearance	Takeoff / landing clearance
Frequency	Ground frequency (e.g., 121.9 MHz)	Tower frequency (e.g., 118.8 MHz)

Clearance Structure

A typical taxi clearance includes:

Destination: Holding point or stand
Route: Taxiways to be used
Restrictions: Hold short instructions or stopbars
Runway information: For departures

Example:
"OE-CVC, taxi to holding point runway 08 via Bravo, hold short of runway."

Key Rules

✅ Never taxi without clearance
✅ Read back all taxi instructions
✅ Do not cross runways unless specifically cleared
✅ Stay alert for conditional clearances (e.g., “after landing traffic, line up”)

Additional Notes

At busy airports, Ground may coordinate with Apron Control, which handles gate assignments and ramp positions
In smaller aerodromes without a dedicated Ground frequency, Tower may provide taxi instructions
Vehicle drivers also communicate on Ground frequency using vehicle call signs (e.g., “Follow-Me 1”)