Ann Arbor Municipal (KARB) radio calls

Towered airport with a Class D surface area

Sample calls at KARB

Ann Arbor Municipal 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 06; 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 134.55 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. YouAnn Arbor Clearance, Cessna Three One Six Zero Foxtrot, at the ramp with Information Alpha, VFR to the north, request clearance.
3. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Ann Arbor Clearance, maintain VFR at or below two thousand five hundred, departure frequency one one eight point niner five, squawk four six one two.
4. YouAt or below two thousand five hundred, departure one one eight point niner five, squawk four six one two, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
5. YouAnn Arbor 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, Ann Arbor Ground, runway zero six, taxi via Alpha, hold short of runway zero six.
7. YouRunway zero six, taxi via Alpha, hold short of runway zero six, 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. YouAnn Arbor Tower, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, holding short runway zero six, ready for departure, northbound.
10. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Ann Arbor Tower, runway zero six, cleared for takeoff.
11. YouRunway zero six, cleared for takeoff, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
12. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, contact Detroit Approach one one eight point niner five.
13. Youone one eight point niner five, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
14. YouDetroit 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, Detroit 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. YouAnn Arbor Tower, Cessna Three One Six Zero Foxtrot, one five miles north, three thousand, with Information Bravo, landing Ann Arbor.
19. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Ann Arbor Tower, enter left downwind runway zero six, report midfield downwind.
20. YouEnter left downwind runway zero six, report midfield, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
21. YouAnn Arbor Tower, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, midfield left downwind, runway zero six.
22. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, runway zero six, cleared to land, wind two seven zero at eight.
23. YouRunway zero six, 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 Ann Arbor Ground one two one point six.
26. YouExit next taxiway, one two one point six, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
27. YouAnn Arbor Ground, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, clear of runway zero six, taxi to the ramp.

If things change. The tower operates 0800-2000 local. Outside those hours the airport is a non-towered field: self-announce on the CTAF, 120.3 with the airport name first and last, and the surface area reverts to Class E or Class G as published in the Chart Supplement.

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 →
• First time flying into a Class D airport →
• How to request VFR flight following →
• How to read the ATIS →

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