Definition
An ATC advisory issued to a landing or arriving aircraft, alerting the pilot that another aircraft is currently lined up and waiting on the runway they are approaching. The phrase is used by the controller to make sure the inbound pilot is aware that traffic is sitting on the active runway, even though that traffic has not yet been cleared for takeoff.
Plain English
Heads up — there is another aircraft sitting on the runway you are about to use. It is not moving yet, but it is there.
Context Anchor
Heard in tower-controlled airport operations, especially when one aircraft is cleared to land or continue while another aircraft is waiting on the runway.
Why Pilots Care
Maintains runway separation awareness and prevents incursions during takeoff sequencing.
Grounding Statement
Picture an airplane stopped on the runway centerline with its nose pointed down the runway, waiting for the tower to say it may take off.
Intuition Check
Do not read “traffic” here as road traffic or general busyness. In this context, “traffic holding in position” means a specific aircraft is physically waiting on the runway.
Example Sentence 1
On a three-mile final, the tower called, ‘Cessna 32B, traffic holding in position runway 27,’ so the pilot kept a close watch on the departing aircraft and stayed ready to go around.
Example Sentence 2
We waited for the traffic holding in position to depart before receiving our takeoff clearance.