ground movements

7110.65 3-7-2: Taxi and Ground Movement Operations

Pushback onto taxiways Tango and Kilo Requires ATC Clearance. Make sure the aircraft is squawking Mode C and their assigned squawk code before entering any movement area. (Look at the ASDE-X)

Example phraseology for issuing push instructions:

"Push onto taxiway Kilo, tail east."

The area between concourses C and D is a non-movement area. Replies to pilot requests for pushback in this area should be limited to advisories only. e.g. “Pushback at pilot’s discretion.” or “Advise you hold at the gate.”

The basic phraseology for a taxi instruction:

"RUNWAY (number), TAXI VIA (route as necessary)."

or

"RUNWAY (number), TAXI VIA (route as necessary), (hold short instructions as necessary."

Many different taxi routes are possible at PDX with different routes being more useful in different scenarios. Here are a few examples of some standard day-to-day taxi instructions you may give to aircraft at PDX when you’re controlling:

"DAL1433, Portland Ground, runway two eight right, taxi via Kilo, Alpha Five, Alpha."

"ASA1265, Portland Ground, runway one zero left , taxi via Tango, Echo Three, Echo, Kilo, cross runway 21."

taxiway restrictions

Not all taxiways at PDX area available for use to all aircraft. See the VPDX 7110.10 document for the official limitations. The image below is a guide.

The most common restrictions you will probably run into:

• Taxiway T along Concourse B is closed to anything bigger than a 737/A320. Sending aircraft to 28L via a route like T B3 B will also prevent conflicts with aircraft pushing back onto T.

• The east end of taxiway C is closed to larger heavy aircraft. This mostly affects aircraft from the cargo aprons. 747 and 777 aircraft will need to cross 28L to continue on B. MD11 and 767 aircraft are below the limit and can continue on C.

• Taxiway T along Concourse C is closed to the longest wingspans, which includes the 777, A340, A350. Older models of the A330 (A332/3) and 747 (B741/2/3/4) are fine, but the newer models (A338/9, B748) are too big.

• Taxiway V and taxiway K between A5 and V are closed to larger heavy aircraft. The B764 and MD11 are too big for this, but the B762/3 and DC10 are below the limit.

• Taxiway K between V and A4 along the North Ramp is closed to anything larger than a 737/A320.

Reminder: Per the AIM 4-3-14(a), pilots are expected to communicate on the appropriate Ground frequency and then change on their own to the Tower frequency when ready for departure (emphasis added):

"Unless otherwise advised by the tower, remain on that frequency during taxiing and runup, then change to local control frequency when ready to request takeoff clearance."

You may explicitly tell them to contact or monitor Tower at an earlier point, or remind them of the guidance in the AIM if they ask you for permission to switch to Tower when they're holding short of the runway.