Aircraft receiving VFR flight following with Columbus Approach Control to the airport should review the following:

If you are flying into Ohio State University Airport and receiving VFR flight following with CMH Approach, do not assume that a hand-off is going to be made. CMH DOES NOT hand-off VFR aircraft to OSU tower.

It must be noted however that CMH Approach has a tendency of getting very busy and very quickly, yet it remains the pilot’s responsibility to ensure that Class “D“ airspace is not violated even when receiving VFR flight following. With this in mind, take a look at the following best operating practice:

Be aware that Ohio State Tower applies LAHSO procedures to single engine aircraft on runways 5, 9L, 9R, 14 & 27L. The procedure limits the amount of a particular runway that a pilot can use by holding the aircraft short of another landing or takeoff runway.

Phraseology: “Cessna 345, Cleared to land runway 9- right, hold short runway 14 for landing traffic, available landing distance 3, 300 feet.”

Pilots accepting a LAHSO clearance must read back the hold short assignment with the landing clearance. Advise the controller immediately if you cannot accept a LAHSO clearance. Here are the available landing distances from the approach ends to the LAHSO hold lines:

It is very helpful to be familiar with initial reporting points within the vicinity of the OSU airport. Simply let us know if you are unfamiliar with the area and Tower will assist appropriately. These local points focus on prominent locations and landmarks mostly within 2.5 miles of the airport. The majority of reporting points (located to the north of the airport) may be used by the controller in order to instruct aircraft to enter the pattern at specific places. Common communication such as “Report the twin tanks at I-270”, “Report the river and the outer belt”, “Report route 315 and the outer belt” are commonly used. “The outer belt” referrers to interstate I-270, which surrounds the city of Columbus. For a detailed map of OSU reporting points click on the images below.

Hot Spots are known points on the airfield that can cause confusion to unfamiliar pilots. OSU Airport has its own uniqueness and there are three such hot spots identified on the airport surface. (See Image Below).

Hot Spot 1 is the hold short point for runway 32. Pilots will notice that the hold bar for runway 9R/27L is also the hold bar for runway 32. In other words, runway 32 is immediately across the other side of runway 9R/27L, and therefore pilots must hold for a runway 32 departure at the “double duty” hold bar on taxiway delta. It is mandatory that the pilot awaiting departure on runway 32 hold on taxiway delta and not cross the hold bar until issued a takeoff clearance on runway 32 by the tower. The phraseology will be: Cessna 345, CROSS runway 27-left, CLEARED for takeoff runway 32.”

Hot Spots 2 & 3 are the runway approach zones for runways 5 and 32. An approach zone is where a portion of the movement area conflicts or passes through the arrival path for another runway. For these, it is taxiway alpha that is in the arrival path. The ground controller may require a pilot to hold short of the runway 5 or 32 approach zone area. It is important to note that an approach zone has a hold bar on each side. Once allowed to cross the approach zone, the pilot must pass through both hold bars; otherwise, the aircraft will still be in the approach zone. The far side bar will have the dashes on the pilot’s side and there is a lack of red hold bar signs. The pilot may then continue on to the assigned takeoff runway hold bar, where he or she must hold short until issued a takeoff clearance.

Additionally, look closely at Hot Spot 2 below. There is an additional hold bar short of taxiway alpha headed north. Do not pass north into this area if the flashing yellow guard lights are operating. These lights indicate that runway 5 is active. Pilots should enter taxiway alpha to the east side of the grassy island to taxi to runway 27L.

Student Pilots: Advise the tower or ground controllers that you are a student pilot upon initial contact. This will enable the controller to assist you as necessary both in and out of the airport.

Once you have taxied out for departure, you may automatically switch to tower frequency without requesting from ground control to do so. On departure, it is not always possible to approve you directly on-course due to the volume of traffic OSU receives from time to time. Due to our parallel/crossing runway configuration, it is also dangerous to make an early turnout without first coordinating it with the Tower Controller. Even if approved on-course, you should fly runway heading until one-half-mile off the departure end of the runway. Remain on State Tower frequency until exiting the Class Delta Surface Area; otherwise, you may request a frequency change prior to that. No request to change frequencies upon exiting a Class Delta Surface Area is necessary.

Due to airspace classification, Class Charlie services are not permitted off OSU; however, State Tower may issue a frequency change to CMH Approach for traffic advisories upon request. If an aircraft is likely to depart underneath Class Charlie Airspace, then OSU Tower will instruct the pilot to remain clear of Columbus Class C airspace. At the appropriate time, State Tower will allow a frequency change to CMH Approach. This is the most efficient way to get you on-course when departing southeast. Remember: 

Although the OSU airport is not a large one in acreage, it can be tricky getting to the right one of eight different runway numbers. Please feel free to ask for “progressive taxi instructions“ if you are unfamiliar. There are two approach zones that arrive over taxiway alpha and 12 different runway/taxiway intersection combinations on the airfield.