11:26OW3881OW3881, request IFR clearance to Spangdahlem Air Base, ready to copy.
11:35SH8752SH8752, request IFR clearance to Monchengladbach Airport, ready to copy.
↩ Enter
Command line
Talk like a tower.
Type a callsign and the command line offers what fits next: clearances, pushback, taxi routes and runways. Enter picks a suggestion, Ctrl+Enter transmits.
SH8752 taxi to holding point runway 07 via N H
You
SH8752 taxi to holding point runway 07 via N H
SH8752
Taxi to holding point runway zero seven via November Hotel, Skyhopper eight seven five two.
Pilot voices
Pilots answer out loud.
Every aircraft keeps its own voice. Airlines answer with their radio name; runways, squawk codes and private callsigns come back digit by digit and letter by letter, the way they sound on frequency.
Ground and approach
From the apron to thirty miles out.
Jump between the airport and the approach radar. Range rings every 5 NM show how far out your traffic is, and a line marks the final approach to the active runway.
M switches the view
€12,400LDG 3DEP 4LVL 2/8♥♥♥
Waiting for you 2
SH8752B73761Clearance
NR9264A32007Landing
Ground 3
ZP0002DHC672Taxiing
WB3537CRJ910Scheduled
OW3881CRJ913Approach
Flight strips and score
Keep the flow. Keep your lives.
Aircraft that need you rise to the top of the strips. Every flight you handle pays, traffic grows as you go, and every conflict costs one of your three lives.
What's new
Version 1.77.0
18 October 2026
NewAt Madrid, the Boeing 747 no longer lands on runway 36R, where it could not reach a stand. Pilots now refuse a stand or an approach that would leave them stuck.
Version 1.76.0 · 18 October 2026
NewChoose your airport on a world map you can zoom and pan, with a search for name, city or code.
Newlanding aircraft leave the runway on an exit that leads to the gates
Newthe tower is now your hangar: the logbook has its own tab, and account, support and settings sit in the menu behind your avatar
NewPilot radio calls, their effects and their voice now follow one radio channel; at high speed more calls appear as text only.
NewStands that aircraft could never reach after landing are no longer used at Frankfurt, Johannesburg, Tokyo Haneda and San Francisco.
NewThe loading screen now shows an airport under the sky of your shift's time of day.
NewThe logbook can show a shift as interrupted.
Version 1.75.0 · 9 October 2026
NewDepartures taxi to the start of the runway unless the clearance leads to an intersection
Newfly clean for a streak bonus, end your shift to bank it, and see a summary of every shift
NewTaxi clearances accept short connecting taxiways left out, e.g. "via T N" instead of "via T L3 N L1"
Version 1.74.0 · 9 October 2026
NewEach IFR departure has an exit gate towards its destination; hand it to Center and leave through the gate, high and fast enough, for full pay
NewIFR departures now get an initial climb in their clearance and fly runway heading after take-off; Departure vectors them out of the airspace
FixedMany airports open stands that were missing so far, most of all Frankfurt, San Francisco and Tokyo Haneda.
FixedTaxiways that end on the far part of a runway are connected again.
Version 1.73.0 · 8 October 2026
NewIFR go-arounds now fly runway heading to a missed-approach altitude; hand them to Approach with "contact approach" for a second approach
NewTower can give a go-around a heading and altitude, and the pilot reminds you to hand it to Approach
Version 1.72.0 · 4 October 2026
Newthe bell now tells you when your suggestion goes live, is planned, ships or is not accepted
Newwhen we have a question about your suggestion, it arrives as a support ticket with your suggestion right in it
Version 1.71.0 · 4 October 2026
NewTraffic now fits the airport: Dubai sees mostly widebodies and no small planes, Stuttgart keeps some general aviation, and airliners always fly IFR
Version 1.70.0 · 4 October 2026
NewCOMMUNITY has a new Suggestions tab where you vote on ideas from other controllers and send your own
Newcontact support from a running shift through the new help button next to the bell
NewReleased suggestions link straight to their entry in What's new
Version 1.69.0 · 3 October 2026
Newa bell in the hub and in the game shows when we have replied to your support ticket
Newyou get an email with the conversation when we reply to your support ticket
FixedILS arrivals now join the localizer closer in and descend onto the glide path by themselves when they are a little high
Fixedwithout a speed instruction, arrivals slow down by themselves after the approach clearance
Version 1.68.0 · 3 October 2026
Newa new SUPPORT tab lets you report bugs, send feedback or ask questions and chat with us about each ticket
NewAt 2x and 5x any conflict drops the game back to 1x
Newlinks to a support ticket bring you back to that ticket after signing in
NewPause and resume with P; the speeds are now 1x, 2x and 5x on the keys 1, 2 and 3
Newthe COMMUNITY tab shows announcements from the tower, like shout-outs to streamers and heads-ups about upcoming changes; important ones also appear as a strip at the top of the hub until you have seen them
Newthe hub has a new COMMUNITY tab that shows what changed in each update, with new updates highlighted until you read them
NewWhen the radio gets busy at high speed, late pilot calls appear as text right away instead of lagging behind
Version 1.67.0 · 30 September 2026
Newtabs on phones show an icon above each label
Newthe tower shows your record and last shifts, and the new logbook lists every shift and your best at each airport
FixedPilots no longer speak with a breathy, whispering voice on the radio
Version 1.66.0 · 29 September 2026
NewChoose a unique username for your account, changeable once every 30 days
Version 1.65.0 · 29 September 2026
NewHow to play is now a short five-step guide for beginners, with a plain-English explanation under every radio call
Version 1.64.0 · 29 September 2026
Newevery shift you finish is saved to your account, and your best shift comes from your account
Newthe loading screen now clearly shows that the game is loading, how far along it is, and that your shift starts when you press Start shift
Newthe radio tutorial opens only when you ask for it, with the new How to play button on the loading screen
Newyour sound settings, map layers and last airport now follow your account to every device
Version 1.63.0 · 29 September 2026
NewVoice radio is now a Premium feature. On a free account the mic button is locked; typing commands works as before.
Version 1.62.0 · 29 September 2026
Newthe AIRPORT tab shows how to set up an ILS approach: intercept headings, how far out to join the localizer and how slow to be at 4 NM
Version 1.61.0 · 29 September 2026
NewTraffic now builds up faster and gets much busier at the top levels, especially at airports with two parallel runways
Version 1.60.0 · 28 September 2026
NewIn Approach, the boundary circle now shows headings, so you can read off the direction for a vector
NewWith a mouse, drag from an airborne aircraft in Approach to see the heading toward the pointer
Version 1.59.0 · 28 September 2026
Newa clearly spoken command is sent right away; when the game is unsure, it lands in the command line with what was heard above it
Newpush-to-talk moves from Space to the key next to the space bar (right ⌘ on Mac, right Alt elsewhere), changeable in the settings
NewThe privacy policy now explains the internal notes we keep on accounts
Version 1.58.0 · 27 September 2026
NewArrivals that leave the airspace divert and cost money, and so does flying faster than 250 knots below 10,000 feet
Newhold Space or the microphone button to speak a command; what you said lands in the command line
NewIFR arrivals now enter at the edge of the airspace and call Approach; vector them, clear the ILS approach and hand them to Tower
Version 1.57.0 · 27 September 2026
NewHold Short opens for sign-ups in early access: new accounts join the waitlist, and an invite code opens your tower right away
Version 1.56.1 · 27 September 2026
FixedAircraft that collide above 1500 ft now cost a life as well
Version 1.56.0 · 26 September 2026
NewRadar data blocks show current values brighter than assigned values, which now start with an arrow
Version 1.55.0 · 26 September 2026
NewGletscher Air is now Glacier Air and Tulpenflug is now Tulip Air
Newpilots now call airlines by their radio name, like "Skyhopper eight seven five two"
Fixedaircraft no longer park on taxiways; stands that lie on or next to a taxiway are moved clear or left out
FixedHeathrow taxiways are now called by their letter (S instead of TAXIWAY S) on the map, in suggestions and on the radio
FixedThe whole game is now in English, including the manual, the loading screen, strips and menus; money reads €1,234
Version 1.54.0 · 26 September 2026
NewThe approach view is now a radar screen for the whole 30 NM area, with a darker map, range rings every 5 NM and data blocks showing altitude, heading and speed of every aircraft in the air
Version 1.53.0 · 26 September 2026
Newthe privacy policy now covers accounts, the sign-in cookie and emails
Version 1.52.0 · 25 September 2026
Newthe Airport tab shows the field elevation and the transition altitude of your airport
NewThe manual and the loading-screen tutorial now teach radio frequencies, every handoff and how to switch frequencies on and off.
Version 1.51.0 · 25 September 2026
NewArrivals now change to Ground after landing: hand them over with "contact ground", already during the landing roll if you like
Newflight strips and aircraft details show the frequency each pilot is on
Newpick the transmit frequency next to the command input; it follows the aircraft you address
Newswitch radio frequencies on and off in the new Radio tab; calls on switched-off frequencies stay silent and their aircraft turn white-grey
NewTaxi to stand now comes from Ground; an arrival you forget to hand over waits on Tower and asks for Ground
Version 1.50.0 · 24 September 2026
Newleave a running shift from the HUD, the pause screen or after game over and get back to the tower
Newplay.hold-short.app opens a tower hub with a quick start for your last airport, the manual and the sound settings
Version 1.49.0 · 24 September 2026
NewAircraft now change frequency: hand them from Delivery to Ground to Tower to Departure with "contact ground", "contact tower" and "contact departure"
NewEvery radio line shows its frequency, and the command line shows which frequency you are transmitting on
NewImprint and privacy policy on hold-short.app, linked from the airport selection
NewPilot voices now download from Hold Short's own server; the voice model downloads once more after this update
NewTower now clears every runway crossing; pilots tell you when a command belongs to another frequency
Version 1.48.0 · 23 September 2026
NewAt US airports pilots now say frequencies with "point", as they do there
NewThe game now runs at play.hold-short.app; settings and high score start fresh there
NewThe landing page now lives at hold-short.app
Version 1.47.2 · 21 September 2026
FixedA new taxi clearance at a runway holding point keeps the aircraft waiting there instead of letting it cross without clearance
FixedAn aircraft holding short of a runway it has to cross can now always be cleared with "cross runway" or told to "hold short of runway"
Version 1.47.1 · 21 September 2026
FixedWhen no holding point with enough runway can be reached, the pilot now asks for another runway instead of full length
Version 1.47.0 · 21 September 2026
New"backtrack and line up runway 07" drives onto the runway, back down it and into position in one clearance
Newpicking an aircraft now brings it into view on the map, without changing your zoom
NewSend an aircraft down the runway and turn it around at the far end with "runway 07, backtrack"
Newshow a taxiway's name next to the mouse pointer while you hover it on the map
FixedAn aircraft holding short of a runway whose direction has changed is no longer stuck at its holding point
Fixedclicking a taxiway, stand or runway on the map now only fills the command line where that name fits the command you are building
Version 1.46.0 · 20 September 2026
NewArrivals can be sent to a different stand, and the stand they were heading to becomes free again
NewYou can now change a taxi clearance while an aircraft is already taxiing or waiting
Fixeda plane that stops talking loses its pin, and its old callsign in the radio log no longer starts a command
FixedA refused re-routing no longer counts against you as a refused clearance
FixedA taxiway split by a crossing in the map data now counts as one taxiway, so a clearance like "via M" no longer comes back as unable
Fixedtaxiway names made of two words, such as "LINK 11" or "A 1", count as valid again, so the status line stops calling them unknown and the route still appears on the map
Fixedthe suggestion list keeps narrowing while you type a taxiway name with a space, and a route tapped together on touch shows its preview
Version 1.45.0 · 20 September 2026
Newkeep taxiway and stand labels quiet until you point at them or name them in a command
NewSee at a glance which runway direction is in use on the map
NewThe status line under the command line now names every value it read, such as RWY, Route or Squawk
FixedThe runway to cross, the hold short point and the wind no longer appear as bare numbers
Version 1.44.0 · 20 September 2026
NewChoose the time of day before a session: morning, day, dusk or night
FixedA minute on the tower clock is a real minute again, so waiting times and slot windows are reachable
FixedOff-block, slot and arrival times on the strip now match what happens on the map
FixedThe delay counter next to an aircraft now says that it is the crew's waiting time
FixedWarning markers on the map stay visible while the game is paused
Version 1.43.1 · 20 September 2026
FixedPilot radio calls play after taking over the tower on iPhone Safari
FixedThe Music slider adjusts and mutes background music on iOS Safari
FixedTouch command builder stays readable and keeps command choices when rotating a tablet
Version 1.43.0 · 17 September 2026
NewLarge aircraft only get stands they actually fit on
NewPushing a parked aircraft out of the way now counts as a collision
NewThe map shows the planned taxi route while you enter the clearance
FixedAircraft details now open only after selecting the same aircraft or flight strip twice.
FixedAircraft no longer park on top of each other on neighbouring stands
FixedPushback is refused when a parked aircraft blocks the way, and the pilot names the stand
Version 1.42.1 · 16 September 2026
Fixedassign departure runway with taxi clearance
Version 1.42.0 · 16 September 2026
NewFlugzeuge kreuzen Bahnen auf dem Weg zum Stand oder zur Startbahn – ohne deine Freigabe halten sie davor und melden sich
Newneue Funksprüche „cross runway" und „hold short of runway", auch direkt in der Rollfreigabe
FixedDie letzten Funksprüche sind über der Karte jetzt gut lesbar — die Karte dunkelt darunter sanft ab, und ältere Zeilen werden nicht mehr ausgegraut.
FixedStände und Bahnen, die bisher gar nicht erreichbar waren, lassen sich jetzt anrollen
Version 1.41.1 · 16 September 2026
FixedA pushback approved too early is refused with the reason, such as boarding in progress
FixedAircraft that had to wait before their first call now board after they reach you, instead of standing ready the moment you clear them
Version 1.41.0 · 16 September 2026
NewA click on the empty map closes the detail view
NewClicking an aircraft or its flight strip now starts a command and opens its details at once
NewPilots name the runway they will rejoin when they go around
FixedA go-around no longer crosses the approach of a parallel runway
FixedAircraft no longer climb on final after a go-around
FixedAircraft that go around now come back to the runway that is active, even after you turned the direction around
Version 1.40.0 · 15 September 2026
NewChoose one of ten airports around the world before you take the tower
NewFlights now also head to big international hubs
Version 1.39.0 · 15 September 2026
NewOn phones and tablets you build commands by swiping instead of typing: pick an aircraft, a clearance and each value, and see the command take shape as you go
NewOn touch devices, the aircraft waiting for you are a swipe row, and the pilot's last message is always shown in full
NewOn touch devices, the choices that fit the aircraft come first, like its destination, its runway or the next taxiway crossing on its route
Version 1.38.0 · 15 September 2026
NewA short dedication to air traffic controllers on the start page
NewThe start page describes the game without naming a single airport
Version 1.37.0 · 15 September 2026
NewThe game has a new name, Hold Short, with its own logo on the start page, the loading screen and in the browser tab
FixedAircraft on the start page roll along the runway and taxiways instead of beside them
Version 1.36.0 · 15 September 2026
NewAircraft glide smoothly across the map instead of moving in small jumps
Version 1.35.0 · 15 September 2026
NewAfter a callsign, command suggestions are grouped into Delivery, Ground, Tower and Departure, with the command the aircraft is waiting for on top
NewAt night taxiways, runways and approach lights glow on the map
NewCommand suggestions leave out what an aircraft no longer needs, like pushback for a taxiing departure or landing for an aircraft already on the ground
NewDusk and dawn now fade in smoothly instead of switching at six o'clock
NewOn touch devices, taxiing aircraft get chips to hold position, hold short and continue taxi
Version 1.34.0 · 15 September 2026
NewThe loading screen shows step by step how radio calls work for a departure and a landing
FixedExample clearances in the manual name the full destination airport
Version 1.33.1 · 15 September 2026
FixedPilots now talk from your very first game
Version 1.33.0 · 15 September 2026
NewZoomed out to the approach view, the map only shows aircraft that are talking to you
FixedThe start page shows its aircraft again, now with the same outlines and airline colours as in the game
Version 1.32.0 · 15 September 2026
NewA manual behind the book icon in the HUD explains scoring, the flow of a flight, every radio call, the controls and tricky situations
Version 1.31.0 · 15 September 2026
NewAircraft lights blink by what the aircraft is doing, and at night the map gets darker with glowing lights and taxi lights
NewAircraft on the map show the real outline and size of their type, with cockpit windows, engines and control surfaces up close
NewTen airlines fly at the airport, recognizable by the letters in the callsign and their own colours, while small aircraft fly privately
Version 1.30.0 · 15 September 2026
NewA new start page shows the airport with live traffic, the radio and the command line in action
NewSee the latest update on the start page and open every earlier one with one click
Version 1.29.0 · 15 September 2026
NewAircraft that have not called in yet show no label or flight strip, and clicking one opens its details
NewThe apron starts busy with parked aircraft on a quarter to half of the stands, and they call in one after another as traffic allows
Version 1.28.0 · 14 September 2026
NewA night take-off loading screen keeps the tower closed until everything is ready
NewPilots speak with natural, clear voices, and their messages appear in the radio log as you hear them
FixedPilot voices are no longer silent after starting a new session following game over
Version 1.27.0 · 14 September 2026
NewThe full aircraft label shows how late a flight on the ground is while the delay costs money, turning yellow and then red as it grows
Version 1.26.0 · 14 September 2026
NewThe aircraft detail sketch shows each type with its own silhouette, real proportions and every seat
FixedDisruption labels in the aircraft sketch fit their text and no longer cover seats or ground vehicles
Version 1.25.0 · 14 September 2026
NewChoose the active runways once for take-offs and landings; the runway panel shows a single row
NewCommand suggestions push the radio log up instead of covering it, so you can keep reading messages while you type
NewGive clearances on touch devices by tapping command chips, without the on-screen keyboard
NewOn phones the HUD shrinks to one pill with a menu for speed, music and settings
NewPlay on tablets and phones: flight strips, radio and the command line sit in a sheet at the bottom that you can pull up
NewRange rings every 2 NM and extended runway centrelines for the active runways appear when you zoom out
NewStop a taxiing aircraft with hold position or hold short of a taxiway and send it on with continue taxi
NewSwitch between a ground view of the airport and an approach view with the GND and APP buttons or the M key
NewTab picks the highlighted command suggestion, just like Enter
NewTap strips, aircraft and taxiway labels instead of hovering, and pinch to zoom the aircraft sketch
FixedThe wind suggestion opens only parallel runways instead of crossing ones
Version 1.24.0 · 14 September 2026
NewA paused game blurs the airport, holds the pilot voices and shows a large pause screen until you continue
NewClear aircraft to line up or take off while they are still taxiing to the holding point
NewEvery aircraft keeps its own voice, with a slightly different pitch and speed
NewPause the game or speed it up to 2x or 3x with the buttons next to the clock or the keys 1 to 4
NewPilots read callsigns, runways, squawk codes and frequencies like real radio calls, digit by digit with the phonetic alphabet
NewThe number keys now control the game speed instead of toggling map layers
FixedAircraft queued behind the holding point now move up and can be cleared for take-off once they get there
FixedClicking into the empty command line shows the callsigns
FixedCommand suggestions follow the cursor, so Enter completes the value where you clicked instead of where you typed last
FixedPilots no longer talk with singing, childlike or robotic novelty voices
Version 1.23.0 · 14 September 2026
NewA difficulty level next to the score rises as you handle flights and brings more traffic, delays and heavy aircraft up to a limit
NewAirports with two parallel runways reach higher difficulty levels
NewCommas between the parts of a command are optional
NewEnter picks the highlighted suggestion, Ctrl+Enter or Cmd+Enter sends the command right away
NewFlight strips are one line each, and aircraft waiting for your clearance are listed at the top
NewPilots read back intersection departures with the remaining runway and refuse intersections too short for their aircraft
NewRadio calls appear right above the command line, and the full history opens with one click
NewTaxiway suggestions only list taxiways the aircraft can reach next, starting with the ones on its own route
NewThe aircraft details open next to the flight strips instead of a window you have to drag
NewThe game starts calmly, with the first departures calling in one after another before the first arrival
NewThe map now fills the whole screen, with a compact bar for the clock, score and settings
FixedAircraft cleared to a runway taxi to a holding point with enough runway ahead instead of the nearest one
FixedInstructions also work with the callsign typed in lower case
FixedPilots answer "say again" when they are called with an instruction they don't understand
FixedSuggestions no longer repeat what is already typed
Version 1.22.0 · 14 September 2026
NewA toolbar on the map shows or hides taxiways, runways, stands, hold lines and aircraft labels, also with the keys 1 to 5
NewClicking a taxiway, runway or stand label adds its name to the command line
NewHovering a label or a taxiway highlights the whole taxiway
NewRed hold lines mark every runway entry, and guard lights pulse at the holding points used for takeoff
NewTaxiway, runway and stand labels are easier to read and no longer pile up on top of each other
FixedStands without a number no longer show "undefined" on the map
Version 1.21.1 · 14 September 2026
NewThe "What's new" list describes every version in plain words and separates new features from fixes
Version 1.21.0 · 14 September 2026
NewCollisions and aircraft blocking each other now cost a life, and the game ends when all lives are gone
NewAfter game over, see your statistics and high score and start a new round at the same airport
Version 1.20.0 · 14 September 2026
NewDrag aircraft labels to wherever they are easiest to read
NewDouble-click a moved label to let the game place it again
Version 1.19.0 · 14 September 2026
NewEarn money for every landing and departure, with less pay for delays and a charge for every go-around
NewKeep an eye on your money, landings, departures and lives in the bottom bar
NewArrivals come in more often the more aircraft you handle
Version 1.18.0 · 13 September 2026
NewTaxiing aircraft stop behind the traffic ahead and move on once the way is clear
NewAircraft waiting behind another one at a holding point now report holding short too
NewConflicts, collisions and aircraft blocking each other are marked on the map
Version 1.17.0 · 13 September 2026
NewGuide departures from pushback along your cleared taxi route to take-off, and bring arrivals in to land and taxi to their stand
NewChoose the active runways yourself based on a live wind model, while pilots refuse clearances with too much tailwind
NewArrivals turn around at their stand into new departures, and a detail panel shows each flight's crew, timeline and radio calls
Version 1.16.0 · 30 April 2025
NewClear aircraft to push back from their stand
Version 1.15.0 · 29 April 2025
NewGive departures their IFR clearance, with squawk code suggestions
Version 1.14.0 · 27 April 2025
NewPilots read their radio calls aloud, with a volume setting of their own
Version 1.13.0 · 27 April 2025
NewPilots call you on the radio to request their IFR clearance
Version 1.12.0 · 26 April 2025
NewThe ATC chat shows new radio messages as they arrive and can be minimized
Version 1.11.0 · 26 April 2025
NewA clock shows the simulation time, with the sun and moon marking day and night
Version 1.9.0 · 22 April 2025
NewSort flight strips by dragging them between columns
NewType ATC commands in the new command bar with suggestions as you type
Version 1.7.0 · 20 April 2025
NewListen to music in the new music player and adjust the volume in the settings
Version 1.6.1 · 20 April 2025
FixedThe "What's new" list no longer shows GitHub links
Version 1.5.0 · 19 April 2025
NewSee what's new in each version right on the start screen
Version 1.3.0 · 18 April 2025
NewThe sidebar shows which version of the game you are playing
Why Hold Short exists
For the people in the tower.
Every flight depends on someone you never see. Air traffic controllers guide aircraft on the ground and keep them apart in the air, day and night, so that everyone on board arrives safely. Hold Short is a game for people who love aviation, and a small thank-you to the people who keep it safe.
Dedicated to air traffic controllers everywhere.
SH8752 request IFR clearance to Monchengladbach Airport, ready to copy.