Aviation Speak

TWEB-Transcribed Weather Broadcast

TWEB stands for transcribed weather broadcast. TWEBs are continuous recordings of weather and aeronautical information that are broadcast over selected low-frequency navigational aids and VORs. These broadcasts typically include specially prepared National Weather Service forecasts, in-flight advisories, winds aloft, weather reports such as METARS, and notams. At some locations, TWEBs are available by telephone. The telephone numbers for this service are listed in the Airport/Facility Directory. TWEB broadcasts are intended tobe used for planning, and are not meant to substitute for a full weather briefing.

Clear Of The Runway

Just about every pilot has heard the term clear of the runway. We may think of this as simply being out of the way of traffic on the active runway, but there's more to this common term. In fact, many pilots use this expression incorrectly.

If you often fly at busy, nontowered airports, you're used to pilots announcing their position on the ground. But how many times have you heard a pilot say that he or she is "clear of the runway" or "clear of the active" only to see that pilot beginning the turnoff? In fact, an aircraft that is exiting or crossing a runway is not clear until all parts of the aircraft are beyond the edge of the runway. This only applies when there is no restriction on the aircraft's movement beyond the holding-position marking. If you are at a controlled field and the aircraft turns off the runway but has been told to hold short of the taxiway, the aircraft isn't clear of the runway until it has received clearance to taxi.

The rules are similar for aircraft that are taxiing to a runway. In this case, the aircraft is clear of the runway as long as all parts of the aircraft are behind the runway hold-short lines. If any part of the aircraft extends beyond the hold-short lines-even though there may be ample room between the aircraft and the runway-the aircraft is not clear of the runway. In the case of a nontowered field with no hold-short lines, the aircraft is clear as long as it is entirely behind the runway edge lines.

As with anything, pilots and air traffic controllers are expected to use common sense to make sure that there is always adequate separation between aircraft on taxiways and aircraft on the runway. This is especially important at airports that may not have clear runway edge lines or hold-short markings.

To make sure that you don't cause a runway incursion and force another aircraft to abort a landing or takeoff, stay beyond any holding markings until you are exiting the runway, pull beyond the holding markings before stopping to perform your after-landing checklist.