Aspen-Pitkin County/Sardy Field (KASE) radio calls

Towered airport with a Class D surface area

Sample calls at KASE

Aspen-Pitkin County/Sardy Field 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 00X; 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 120.4 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. YouAspen Clearance, Cessna Three One Six Zero Foxtrot, at the ramp with Information Alpha, VFR to the north, request clearance.
3. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Aspen Clearance, maintain VFR at or below two thousand five hundred, departure frequency one two three point eight, squawk four six one two.
4. YouAt or below two thousand five hundred, departure one two three point eight, squawk four six one two, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
5. YouAspen 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, Aspen Ground, runway 00X, taxi via Alpha, hold short of runway 00X.
7. YouRunway 00X, taxi via Alpha, hold short of runway 00X, 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. YouAspen Tower, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, holding short runway 00X, ready for departure, northbound.
10. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Aspen Tower, runway 00X, cleared for takeoff.
11. YouRunway 00X, cleared for takeoff, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
12. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, contact Aspen Approach one two three point eight.
13. Youone two three point eight, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
14. YouAspen 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, Aspen 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. YouAspen Tower, Cessna Three One Six Zero Foxtrot, one five miles north, three thousand, with Information Bravo, landing Aspen.
19. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Aspen Tower, enter left downwind runway 00X, report midfield downwind.
20. YouEnter left downwind runway 00X, report midfield, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
21. YouAspen Tower, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, midfield left downwind, runway 00X.
22. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, runway 00X, cleared to land, wind two seven zero at eight.
23. YouRunway 00X, 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 Aspen Ground one two one point niner.
26. YouExit next taxiway, one two one point niner, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
27. YouAspen Ground, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, clear of runway 00X, taxi to the ramp.

If things change. The tower operates 0700-2000 local. Outside those hours the airport is a non-towered field: self-announce on the CTAF, 118.85 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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