In controller communications, what does the directive 'CROSS' indicate?

In controller communications, what does the directive 'CROSS' indicate?

• A. The runway crossing must be cleared
• B. The aircraft should stop and wait
• C. The runway to be crossed must be verbally specified
• D. The weather must be verified

Answer: (C)

The key idea here is that CROSS is used to remove ambiguity when crossing runways. In a busy airport with multiple runways or intersecting taxiways, simply saying cross without naming a runway could lead to crossing the wrong one. So, when ATC uses CROSS, the clearance requires the exact runway to be stated verbally. The pilot should not cross until ATC designates the specific runway to be crossed. If the runway isn’t named in the clearance, the pilot should ask for clarification so both parties are aligned. This helps prevent runway incursions and keeps taxiing movements orderly.

The key idea here is that CROSS is used to remove ambiguity when crossing runways. In a busy airport with multiple runways or intersecting taxiways, simply saying cross without naming a runway could lead to crossing the wrong one. So, when ATC uses CROSS, the clearance requires the exact runway to be stated verbally. The pilot should not cross until ATC designates the specific runway to be crossed. If the runway isn’t named in the clearance, the pilot should ask for clarification so both parties are aligned. This helps prevent runway incursions and keeps taxiing movements orderly.