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LAHSO (Land and Hold Short Operations)

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At some controlled airports, LAHSO (Land And Hold Short Operations) provides visual signage for you to land and hold short of intersecting runways, taxiways or other designated points on a runway. Two solid yellow lines and two rows of dashed yellow lines as well as runway identifiers depict the designated LAHSO hold point as shown above. For instance, suppose you're in the small red airplane and are landing on Runway 6. ATC clears you to land but instructs you to hold short of Runway 31 for crossing traffic, a Boeing 767. This means that, if you accept the LAHSO clearance, you can't use the full length of Runway 6. You should land and exit by the first convenient taxiway short of the LAHSO hold lines. If you can't exit the runway, then hold at the LAHSO hold lines. A LAHSO clearance doesn't preclude a rejected landing (a go-around). If this is necessary, then go around, but maintain safe separation from other traffic and promptly notify the controller.

It's very important that you give the controller a full readback of the LAHSO clearance. This lets the controller know that you know what's expected of you. And, if you need the full length of the runway, then don't accept the clearance. Remember, you're the PIC!

For more information on this subject, see "More than a short-field landing."

Rod Machado
Rod Machado
Rod Machado is a flight instructor, author, educator, and speaker.

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