Managing the wait in LUAW

[nav1a1r]

I had a scenario the other day where I had an aircraft on a long LUAW, maybe pushing four or five minutes due to successive arrivals and an intersecting departure. It got me thinking about how we all manage those extended waits. How do you guys handle situations where the hold on the runway is longer than ideal? Are there any specific techniques or communications you use to keep pilots in the loop, or to manage your own sequence when things get backed up? I'm particularly interested in how you balance efficiency with pilot comfort and maintaining clear comms throughout. Keen to hear your best practices and experiences!

 

[Paperbagholder]

With long luaw, it's best to give the pilot a heads up and a brief about the situation and maybe give an update every minute or two, just to keep him in the loop.

 

[NeutronJ]

What's your usual go-to phraseology in those situations to keep pilots informed without overloading the frequency? I've found tone and timing can make a big difference during long LUAW holds.

 

[AmandaNYC]

Constant communication is the key to keeping everyone comfortable when plans change. When the hold stretches past a couple of minutes, I'll often give the pilot an out. Something like "Be advised, release will be another 2-3 minutes due to landing traffic. Advise if you need to vacate" puts the ball in their court and shows you haven't forgotten them.