Converted for WWW by Gregory M. Zonsius
Maintaining good communications procedures between yourself and ATC is important for the safety of all pilot’s. Below are suggested exchanges between a pilot and ATC for different scenarios. The exchanges are in accordance with standard FAA policies and procedures for all pilots.
Airport Traffic Areas (Class D Airspace)
Preparing for Arrival at Unfamiliar Airports:
To prepare for arrival at an unfamiliar airport, listen to ATIS (Airport Terminal Information Service) if available, monitor the tower frequency from about 25 miles out and study a diagram of the airport if available. Contact the tower about 15 miles out. Tell them who you are, where you are, and what you want to do.
For Example:
Aircraft: “Hagerstown tower, Cessna 5345 Alpha, One Five miles southeast
at two thousand five hundred, landing Hagerstown.”
Tower: “Cessna 5345 Alpha, Hagerstown tower, runway two in use, enter
left traffic, report left base, wind calm, altimeter 30.04.”
Aircraft: “Cessna 5345 Alpha”
… At left base
Aircraft: “Hagerstown tower, Cessna 5345 Alpha turning left base
runway two.”
Tower: “Cessna 45 Alpha, cleared to land runway two.”
Aircraft: “Cessna 45 Alpha cleared to land runway two.”
… After landing clear the active runway, contact ground control
when directed.
Aircraft: “Hagerstown ground, Cessna 5345 Alpha clear of runway two,
request progressive taxi instructions to city ramp.”
Ground: “Cessna 45 Alpha Hagerstown ground, taxi to city ramp, continue
straight ahead, turn right at the first intersection.
Aircraft: “Cessna 45 Alpha.”
Departing from a Controlled Airport without ATIS:
To depart from a controlled airport without ATIS, first contact ground control to request taxi clearance and instructions. Give your position on the field and direction of flight.
For Example:
Aircraft: “Hagerstown ground, Cessna 5345 Alpha at city ramp ready to taxi.
Departing VFR southeast bound.”
Tower: “Cessna 5345 Alpha, Hagerstown ground, taxi to runway two, wind
calm, altimeter 30.05, contact tower 120.3 when ready for
departure.”
Aircraft: “Cessna 5345 Alpha.”
… After runup has been completed, remain short of the runway hold line.
Under no circumstance should you enter the active runway without
explicit permission from the tower. When ready to depart, identify
yourself and the runway you’re departing from, tell the controller
you’re ready to depart, give your VFR status and direction of flight.
Aircraft: “Hagerstown tower, Cessna 5345 Alpha ready for departure runway
two, VFR southeast bound.”
Tower: “Cessna 5345 Alpha, Hagerstown tower, runway two, cleared for
takeoff.”
Aircraft: “Cessna 5345 Alpha.”
… After takeoff continue to monitor the tower frequency and keep a sharp
lookout for other traffic until well clear clear of the airport traffic
area (5 statue miles).
Airport Radar Service Areas (ARSA) (Class C Airspace)
PILOT PARTICIPATION IN CLASS C AIRSPACE IS MANDATORY!
Within Class C Airspace, ATC provides the following services:
(A) Sequencing of all arriving aircraft to the primary/ARSA airport,
(B) Standard IFR separation between IFR aircraft,
(C) Between IFR and VFR aircraft – traffic advisories and conflict
resolutions so that radar targets do not touch, or 500 feet vertical
separation.
(D) Between VFR aicraft – traffic advisories and as appropriate, safety
alerts. Within the outer area (10 Nautical Miles), ATC will provide
the same services provided for aircraft operating within the ARSA when
two-way radio communications and radar contact is established.
Landing VFR in an ARSA:
When landing VFR in an ARSA, you should contact approach control over one of the visual check points shown on the sectional map or VFR terminal area chart. Identify yourself, give your location and intentions, and indicate you have the current ATIS information:
For Example:
Aircraft: “Allentown approach, Cessna 5345 Alpha.”
Approach: “Cessna 5345 Alpha, Allentown approach go ahead.”
Aircraft: “Cessna 5345 Alpha slash Romeo, Liberty reservoir at three thousand
five hundred, landing Allentown, with information Bravo.”
Approach: “Cessna 45 Alpha squawk 4231 and ident.”
Aircraft: “Cessna 45 Alpha.”
Approach: “Cessna 45 Alpha, radar contact two four miles northwest, turn
right heading one four zero for vector to runway three two,
descend to two thousand.”
Aircraft: “Cessna 45 Alpha right to one four zero, descend to two thousand.”
Approach: “Cessna 45 Alpha traffice 1 o’clock four miles northbound
altitude unknown.”
Aircraft: “Cessna 45 Alpha traffic in sight.”
Approach: “Cessna 45 Alpha position 5 miles south of Allentown, contact
tower 119.4.”
Aircraft: “Cessna 45 Alpha.”
“Allentown tower, Cessna 5345 Alpha five south for landing.”
Tower: “Cessna 45 Alpha enter left base for runway three two, number two
behind the King Air on two mile final.”
Aircraft: “Cessna 45 Alpha.”
Tower: “Cessna 45 Alpha cleared to land runway three two, caution wake
turbulence United heavy DC-8 on short final runway three one.”
Aircraft: “Cessna 45 Alpha cleared to land runway three two.”
… After landing clear the active runway, contact ground control when
directed.
Aircraft: “Allentwon ground, Cessna 5345 Alpha clear of three two for taxi
to Butler terminal.”
Ground: “Cessna 45 Alpha left turn next intersection, taxi to the
terminal.”
Aircraft: “Cessna 45 Alpha.”
Departing from an Airport within an ARSA:
Departure procedures from an airport inside the ARSA are essentially the reverse of arrival except that at most ARSA airports, departure clearances are handled by clearance delivery rather than ground control.
For departure, first listen to ATIS and THEN contact clearance delivery for your departure clearance. Tell clearance delivery who you are, your route of flight and altitude.
For Example:
Aircraft: “Allentown clearance delivery, Cessna 5345 Alpha slash Romeo,
VFR departure northeast bound three thousand five hundred, with
information Bravo.”
Clearance: “Cessna 45 Alpha Allentown clearance, after takeoff fly runway
heading, maintain at or below two thousand five hundred,
departure frequency will be 119.2, squawk 1410.”
Aircraft: “Cessna 45 Alpha, after takeoff fly runway heading, maintain at
of below two thousand five hundred, departure 119.2,
squawk 1410.”
Clearance: “Cessna 45 Alpha readback correct, contact ground when ready
to taxi.”
Once you have your clearance, the rest of the procedure is essentially the same as at any controlled airport. After takeoff the tower will tell you when to switch to departure control. Radar advisories are normally provided until you depart the outer area of the ARSA. Departure will advise when radar service is terminated, or the pilot may request to terminate radar service.
Terminal Control Areas (TCA) (CLASS B Airspace)
PILOT PARTICIPATION IN CLASS B AIRSPACE ALSO IS MANDATORY!
The procedure for flying into and through a TCA is essentially the same as for ARSA’s except that the pilot must receive permission to enter the TCA prior to entry. Further, you should not request clearance into the TCA unless your aircraft meets the requirements of FAR 91.215 and FAR 91.131. Normally, clearance is received over one of the geographical fixes shown on the associated VFR terminal area charts.
As you approach the TCA boundry, first monitor ATIS then contact approach control.
For Example:
Aircraft: “Philadelphia approach, Cessna 5345 Alpha.”
Approach: “Cessna 5345 Alpha, Philadelphia approach go ahead.”
Aircraft: “Cessna 5345 Alpha slash Romeo, Summit airport at three thousand
five hundred VFR with information Golf, landing Philadelphia
International.”
Approach: “Cessna 45 Alpha squawk 4432 and ident.”
Aircraft: “Cessna 45 Alpha.”
Approach: “Cessna 45 Alpha, radar contact two miles northeast of Summit,
cleared to enter the TCA, turn left heading zero three zero,
descend and maintain two thousand.”
Aircraft: “Cessna 45 Alpha turn left heading zero three zero, descend and
maintain two thousand.”
Pilots should be aware that controller instructions to fly a heading, squawk a code or change altitude or any combination thereof does not constitute clearance into the TCA. When compliance with controller instructions would cause penetration into the TCA, it’s the pilot’s responsibility to verify that clearance has been in fact issued. If you did not hear the phrase “Cleared to enter the TCA”, don’t do it. You may have to answer to the FAA if you do.
Summary:
Remember, maintaining good communications procedures between yourself and ATC is your responsibility as pilot-in-command. Please make the sky’s safe for all that fly in it.
