What is the correct phraseology to cancel the succeeding aircraft's takeoff clearance when the preceding departure aborts on the same runway?

• A. CANCEL TAKEOFF CLEARANCE (reason)
• B. ABORT TAKEOFF CLEARANCE
• C. TERMINATE TAKEOFF CLEARANCE
• D. HOLD TAKEOFF CLEARANCE

Answer: (A)

When a preceding departure aborts on the same runway, the control tower must revoke the next aircraft’s takeoff clearance using the exact phraseology that communicates a cancellation. "Cancel takeoff clearance" is the direct, unambiguous way to tell the following aircraft that the previously issued clearance to take off is no longer valid, and you can add the reason after it if you want to brief the pilot. For example: "Cancel takeoff clearance for Flight 123, due to preceding departure abort on Runway 27." The reason helps the pilot understand the situation and maintain safety.

Other phrasings either misstate the action or imply a different instruction. Instructing an aircraft to abort its own takeoff or telling it to hold accomplishes something different than canceling the clearance, and terms like "terminate takeoff clearance" aren’t the standard way to revoke a clearance.