Keep in mind that participation in SIRO/LAHSO occurs in two contexts: 1) active participation—participating as the aircraft directed to land and hold short of an intersection; and 2) passive participation—participating by either taking off or landing on a full-length runway while another aircraft is being asked to hold short on an intersecting runway.
ARRIVING:
Upon first contact with ATC for a particular airport, notify the controller by saying, "Unable SIRO/LAHSO." Also, to avoid passive participation, state, "(Call Sign) cannot accept aircraft landing and holding short of our runway."DEPARTING:
Avoid passive participation in SIRO/LAHSO by making the following statement to ATC as early as possible in your taxi toward takeoff: "(Call Sign) will be unable to take off with an aircraft landing to hold short of our runway."Some Caveats …
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ALPA’s aim, as always, is to uphold the highest level of safety, so our members will obviously use their best professional judgment—and basic common sense—in determining whether to engage in SIRO/LAHSO on a particular flight segment. Variables such as fuel load, weather, onboard emergencies, etc. will certainly factor into the equation.•
For those occasions when a cockpit crew decides that declining to participate in SIRO/LAHSO is the safest option, two other important caveats apply: be prepared and be professional.•
If you’ve decided to follow ALPA’s no-SIRO/LAHSO recommendation, you’ll have to plan accordingly. When arriving, your announced intentions may result in your flight being vectored or placed into a holding pattern. Consider your fuel load and the weather.•
When departing, your announced intentions may result in ATC telling you to hold your position, re-sequencing you in the taxiway queue, or even redirecting you to a different takeoff runway. Again, consider your fuel requirements, any impending weather, and other safety variables.•
When you are notified that SIRO/LAHSO is in effect at a particular airport, either through the ATIS or the arrivals controller, it is important that ATC be notified as soon as possible of your decision not to participate in SIRO/LAHSO. Announcing your refusal on final approach or just before taxiing to position before take-off, for example, can seriously disrupt ATC operations.•
Remember to remain calm and non-confrontational when dealing with ATC. The place for voicing disagreements with NAV CANADA or Transport Canada is in Ottawa, under the auspices of your union—not on the radio with an air traffic controller. Your decision not to participate in SIRO/LAHSO may require air traffic controllers to make decisions of their own to accommodate your imperative. If you believe any controller’s reaction is improper, ALPA recommends that you nonetheless comply—unless the situation poses any threat to safety—and later notify ALPA’s Air Safety Department at (800) 424-2470.•
Additionally, if you need to communicate to your passengers about SIRO/LAHSO or any delays that may result, simply state that SIRO/LAHSO presents unresolved safety issues that need to be addressed by Transport Canada before you are comfortable participating in this procedure.