Abilene Regional (KABI) radio calls

Towered airport with a Class C surface area

Sample calls at KABI

Abilene Regional has a Class C surface area: establish two-way communication with the approach control before entering, and keep it (AIM 3-2-4 c 3). A reply with your call sign, even "standby", establishes it. The calls below use runway 17L; the tower assigns the runway in use 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. Listen to the ATIS on 118.25 first and note the letter; "with Information (letter)" on your first call lets the controller skip the weather (JO 7110.65 3-10-1).
2. YouAbilene Ground, Cessna Three One Six Zero Foxtrot, at the ramp with Information Alpha, request taxi, VFR departure to the north.
3. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Abilene Ground, runway one seven left, taxi via Alpha, hold short of runway one seven left.
4. YouRunway one seven left, taxi via Alpha, hold short of runway one seven left, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
5. The runway, any clearance onto a runway and every hold-short instruction are read back (AIM 4-3-18 a 9). Stay on Ground through the run-up and switch to Tower when ready (AIM 4-3-14 a).
6. YouAbilene Tower, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, holding short runway one seven left, ready for departure, northbound.
7. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Abilene Tower, runway one seven left, cleared for takeoff.
8. YouRunway one seven left, cleared for takeoff, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
9. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, contact Abilene Approach one two five point zero.
10. Youone two five point zero, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
11. YouAbilene Approach, Cessna Three One Six Zero Foxtrot, two thousand climbing four thousand five hundred, request VFR flight following to the north.
12. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Abilene Approach, radar contact, altimeter three zero zero one.
13. YouAltimeter three zero zero one, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
14. Inbound: call the approach control before the Class C boundary; a reply with your call sign establishes communication and you may enter (AIM 3-2-4 c 3).
15. YouAbilene Approach, Cessna Three One Six Zero Foxtrot, one five miles north, three thousand five hundred, squawking one two zero zero, with Information Bravo, landing Abilene, request Class Charlie service.
16. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Abilene Approach, squawk four six one two, ident.
17. YouSquawk four six one two, ident, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
18. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, radar contact, altimeter three zero zero one, contact Abilene Tower one two zero point one.
19. YouAltimeter three zero zero one, one two zero point one, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
20. YouAbilene Tower, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, five miles north, three thousand, with Bravo.
21. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Abilene Tower, enter left downwind runway one seven left, report midfield downwind.
22. YouEnter left downwind runway one seven left, report midfield, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
23. YouAbilene Tower, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, midfield left downwind, runway one seven left.
24. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, runway one seven left, cleared to land, wind two seven zero at eight.
25. YouRunway one seven left, cleared to land, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
26. The wind is information: acknowledged, not read back. Exit at the first available taxiway or as told, taxi clear of the hold-short markings, and change to Ground only when the tower says (AIM 4-3-21).
27. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, exit at the next taxiway, contact Abilene Ground one two one point seven.
28. YouExit next taxiway, one two one point seven, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
29. YouAbilene Ground, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, clear of runway one seven left, taxi to the ramp.

If things change. The tower operates 24 hours. If you cannot raise it, check the frequency and volume, then squawk 7600, remain outside the Class D until you have the traffic flow, and watch for light signals (AIM 4-2-13).

Phraseology from AIM 4-2-3; 4-3-18 a 9; 4-3-14; 4-3-21; 4-4-7 b; 4-1-18 a 3; 3-2-4 c 3. What TowerTalk grades against →

The calls you will make here

• How to call Ground for taxi →
• Calling the tower inbound →
• Line up and wait, cleared for takeoff, cleared to land →
• Class C airport radio calls →
• How to request VFR flight following →
• How to read the ATIS →

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