What is the role of the tower frequency and ground frequency in runway operations?

• A. Ground controls taxi instructions on taxiways.
• B. The tower controls aircraft on the runway and in the airspace near the airport to issue takeoffs/landings.
• C. Ground controls aircraft on taxiways and runways.
• D. Tower controls runway and airspace near the airport; ground handles taxi instructions.

Answer: (D)

The main idea is how airfield control splits duties between the tower and the ground to manage safe movement of aircraft on the surface and in the vicinity of the airport. The tower frequency is used to manage the active runway and the immediate airspace around the airport, issuing takeoff and landing clearances and coordinating sequencing so departures and arrivals don’t conflict. The ground frequency handles aircraft movement on the movement area that isn’t the active runway—guiding them on taxiways and aprons from gates to runways and between surfaces, but not issuing takeoff or landing clearances.

This matches the description that the tower controls the runway and the airspace near the airport for takeoffs and landings, while the ground handles taxi instructions. The other options are incomplete or inaccurate because they either omit the runway/airspace role or assign surface control to the wrong controller.