Centennial (KAPA) radio calls

Towered airport with a Class D surface area

Sample calls at KAPA

Centennial has a Class D surface area: establish two-way communication with the tower before entering (AIM 3-2-5 b 3). A reply that uses your call sign, even "standby", establishes it; "aircraft calling, standby" does not. The calls below use runway 10; 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 120.3 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. YouCentennial Clearance, Cessna Three One Six Zero Foxtrot, at the ramp with Information Alpha, VFR to the north, request clearance.
3. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Centennial Clearance, maintain VFR at or below two thousand five hundred, departure frequency one three two point seven five, squawk four six one two.
4. YouAt or below two thousand five hundred, departure one three two point seven five, squawk four six one two, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
5. YouCentennial Ground, Cessna Three One Six Zero Foxtrot, at the ramp with Information Alpha, request taxi, VFR departure to the north.
6. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Centennial Ground, runway one zero, taxi via Alpha, hold short of runway one zero.
7. YouRunway one zero, taxi via Alpha, hold short of runway one zero, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
8. 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).
9. YouCentennial Tower, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, holding short runway one zero, ready for departure, northbound.
10. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Centennial Tower, runway one zero, cleared for takeoff.
11. YouRunway one zero, cleared for takeoff, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
12. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, contact Denver Approach one three two point seven five.
13. Youone three two point seven five, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
14. YouDenver Approach, Cessna Three One Six Zero Foxtrot, two thousand climbing four thousand five hundred, request VFR flight following to the north.
15. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Denver Approach, radar contact, altimeter three zero zero one.
16. YouAltimeter three zero zero one, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
17. Inbound: call the tower about 15 miles out, before the Class D boundary (AIM 4-3-2 a).
18. YouCentennial Tower, Cessna Three One Six Zero Foxtrot, one five miles north, three thousand, with Information Bravo, landing Centennial.
19. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Centennial Tower, enter left downwind runway one zero, report midfield downwind.
20. YouEnter left downwind runway one zero, report midfield, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
21. YouCentennial Tower, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, midfield left downwind, runway one zero.
22. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, runway one zero, cleared to land, wind two seven zero at eight.
23. YouRunway one zero, cleared to land, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
24. 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).
25. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, exit at the next taxiway, contact Centennial Ground one two one point eight.
26. YouExit next taxiway, one two one point eight, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
27. YouCentennial Ground, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, clear of runway one zero, 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; 3-2-5 b 3; 4-3-2 a. 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 →
• What "cleared for takeoff" means →
• What "cleared to land" means →
• What "cleared for the option" means →
• First time flying into a Class D airport →
• How to request VFR flight following →
• How to read the ATIS →

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