Which groups of aircraft should be instructed to contact departure control about one-half mile beyond the runway end?

• A. General aviation
• B. Civil aircraft only
• C. Civil aircraft, military transport, and cargo types
• D. Military transport only

Answer: (C)

The main idea is that right after takeoff, traffic must be handed off to departure control to manage the climb and route clearances as aircraft enter the en route airspace. Instructing certain groups to contact departure control about a half mile beyond the runway end ensures these aircraft are promptly coordinated for their assigned paths and altitudes, preventing conflicts with other traffic departing or arriving.

Civil aircraft, military transports, and cargo types cover the typical operations that commonly depart from controlled airports and then proceed onto published routes or specific departure procedures. These groups often require immediate coordination with departure control due to higher speeds, heavier weights, or longer flight paths that leave the local airport environment quickly. Cargo and military transports especially need to be sequenced and separated from other traffic as they climb out and transition to en route airspace.

General aviation, or military transports alone, don’t capture the full scope of operations that typically need this timely handoff. GA flights may remain under local tower or approach control for shorter patterns or local departures, and the option that limits to military transports only would omit civil and cargo traffic that also rely on this handoff.