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Non-towered · Class G at the surface

Gallatin County (8GK) radio calls

Sparta, KYFAA identifier 8GK; no ICAO code assigned

Gallatin County is a non-towered airport in Sparta, KY. Nobody clears you to do anything: you self-announce on the CTAF, 122.9, as Gallatin County Traffic, with the airport name at the start and end of each call. The approach control for the area is Cincinnati Approach on 128.7, which is who you call for VFR flight following.

No Class B, C, D or E surface area is designated for this airport in the FAA data, so the airspace at the surface is Class G.

Frequencies

CTAFGallatin County Traffic122.9
Approach / DepartureCincinnati Approach128.7

Airport

Runways
06 · 24
Elevation
830 ft
Position
38.679, -84.929

Non-towered airport: self-announce on the CTAF

Sample calls at 8GK

Gallatin County has no operating control tower. Every call below goes out on the CTAF, 122.9, to the other aircraft, not to a controller. The runway shown is 06; use whichever runway the wind and the traffic dictate on the day.

The aircraft is the AIM’s own example, Cessna Three One Six Zero Foxtrot; the squawk codes, altitudes and headings are illustrative. Frequencies, station names and runway numbers are this airport’s, from the FAA data.

  1. Tune 122.9. Nobody clears you; you announce and you listen. The airport name goes at the start and the end of every call, and the runway is always a number, never "the active" (AIM 4-1-9 g 8).
  2. YouGallatin County traffic, Cessna Three One Six Zero Foxtrot, taxiing to runway zero six, Gallatin County.
  3. YouGallatin County traffic, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, departing runway zero six, departing the pattern to the north, Gallatin County.
  4. Announce until you are about 10 miles out; on the way back, start announcing at 10 miles (AIM 4-1-9 c 1, TBL 4-1-1).
  5. YouGallatin County traffic, Cessna Three One Six Zero Foxtrot, one zero miles south, two thousand five hundred, landing Gallatin County, Gallatin County.
  6. YouGallatin County traffic, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, entering left downwind runway zero six, full stop, Gallatin County.
  7. YouGallatin County traffic, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, left base runway zero six, Gallatin County.
  8. YouGallatin County traffic, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, final runway zero six, full stop, Gallatin County.
  9. YouGallatin County traffic, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, clear of runway zero six, Gallatin County.

If things change. Want flight following after departure? Call Cincinnati Approach on 128.7 once clear of the pattern: identification, type, position, altitude, destination, "request VFR flight following" (AIM 4-1-18 a 3). Do not use "any traffic in the area, please advise"; the AIM says it is not to be used under any condition (AIM 4-1-9 g 1).

Phraseology from AIM 4-1-9 c 1, g 1, g 8, h; TBL 4-1-1; 4-3-3. What TowerTalk grades against →

The calls you will make here

Nearby in Kentucky

Frequencies, runways and airspace from the FAA National Airspace System Resources (NASR) 28-day subscription, cycle effective Oct 29, 2026. Training use only. Always verify against a current Chart Supplement and sectional chart before flight; frequencies change. TowerTalk is not affiliated with the FAA. Report a discrepancy.

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