JO 7110.65 — Air Traffic Control
JO 7110.65 3-1-15
GROUND OPERATIONS RELATED TO THREE/FOUR-HOUR TARMAC RULE
When a request is made by the pilot‐in‐command of an aircraft to return to the ramp, gate, or alternate deplaning area due to the Three/Four‐Hour Tarmac Rule:
Provide the requested services as soon as operationally practical, or
Advise the pilot‐in‐command that the requested service cannot be accommodated because it would create a significant disruption to air traffic operations. NOTE-
Facility procedures, including actions that constitute a significant disruption, vary by airport and must be identified in the facility directive pertaining to the Three/Four‐Hour Tarmac Rule.
PHRASEOLOGY-
TAXI TO (ramp, gate, or alternate deplaning area) VIA (route).
or
EXPECT A (number) MINUTE DELAY DUE TO (ground and/or landing and/or departing) TRAFFIC,
or
UNABLE DUE TO OPERATIONAL DISRUPTION.
REFERENCE-
DOT Rule, Enhancing Airline Passenger Protections, 14 CFR Part 259, commonly referred to as the Three/Four‐Hour Tarmac Rule.
Previous | Top | Next 7110.65 |
ATPUBS |
FAA |
Send your comments regarding this website.
Chapter 3. Airport Traffic Control - Terminal 7110.65BB
7110.65 by Chapter Number Chapter 0. General Information Chapter 1. General Chapter 2. General Control Chapter 3. Airport Traffic Control - Terminal Chapter 4. IFR Chapter 5. Radar Chapter 6. Nonradar Chapter 7. Visual Chapter 8. Offshore/Oceanic Procedures Chapter 9. Special Flights Chapter 10. Emergencies Chapter 11. Traffic Management Procedures Chapter 12. Canadian Airspace Procedures Chapter 13. Decision Support Tools Chapter 14. Data Link Communications Appendix A Appendix B
ATPUBS
JO 7110.65BB by Topic
General Information Explanation of Changes
General Introduction
Terms of Reference
General Control General
Flight Plans and Control Information
Flight Progress Strips
Radio and Interphone Communications
Route and NAVAID Description
Weather Information
Altimeter Settings
Runway Visibility Reporting- Terminal
Automatic Terminal Information Service Procedures
Team Position Responsibilities
Airport Traffic Control - Terminal General
Visual Signals
Airport Conditions
Airport Lighting
Runway Selection
Airport Surface Detection Procedures
Taxi and Ground Movement Procedures
Spacing and Sequencing
Departure Procedures and Separation
Arrival Procedures and Separation
Helicopter Operations
Sea Lane Operations
IFR NAVAID Use Limitations
Clearances
Departure Procedures
Route Assignment
Altitude Assignment and Verification
Holding Aircraft
Arrival Procedures
Approach Clearance Procedures
Radar General
Beacon/ADS-B Systems
Radar Identification
Transfer of Radar Identification
Radar Separation
Vectoring
Speed Adjustment
Radar Departures
Radar Arrivals
Radar Approaches- Terminal
Surveillance Approaches- Terminal
PAR Approaches- Terminal
Automation- En Route
Standard Terminal Automation Replacement System (STARS)-Terminal
Nonradar General
Initial Separation of Successive Departing Aircraft
Initial Separation of Departing and Arriving Aircraft
Longitudinal Separation
Lateral Separation
Vertical Separation
Timed Approaches
Visual General
Visual Separation
VFR‐On‐Top
Approaches
Special VFR (SVFR)
Basic Radar Service to VFR Aircraft- Terminal
Terminal Radar Service Area (TRSA)-Terminal
Class C Service- Terminal
Class B Service Area- Terminal
Offshore/Oceanic Procedures General
Coordination
Longitudinal Separation
Lateral Separation
Offshore/Oceanic Transition Procedures
Separation from Airspace Reservations
North Atlantic ICAO Region
Caribbean ICAO Region
Pacific ICAO Region
North American ICAO Region
Special Flights General
Special Operations
Special Use, ATC-Assigned Airspace, and Stationary ALTRVs
Fuel Dumping
Jettisoning of External Stores
Unmanned Free Balloons
Parachute Operations
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) Reports
Emergencies General
Emergency Assistance
Overdue Aircraft
Control Actions
Miscellaneous Operations
Oceanic Emergency Procedures
Ground Missile Emergencies
Traffic Management Procedures General
Canadian Airspace Procedures General Control
Decision Support Tools ERAM - En Route
ATOP - Oceanic
Data Link Communications Terminal Procedures for Issuing Automated Clearances
En Route Controller Pilot Data Link Communications (CPDLC) - Domestic
Advanced Technologies and Oceanic Procedures (ATOP) - Oceanic Controller Pilot Data Link Communications (CPDLC)
Appendix A
Appendix B
Airport Traffic Control - Terminal
Visual Signals
Chapter 3. Airport Traffic Control - Terminal
Section 2. Visual Signals
Retrieved from ecfr.gov on July 20, 2026.