Boeing Field/King County International (KBFI) radio calls

Towered airport with a Class D surface area

Sample calls at KBFI

Boeing Field/King County International 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 14L; 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 127.75 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. YouBoeing Clearance, Cessna Three One Six Zero Foxtrot, at the ramp with Information Alpha, VFR to the north, request clearance.
3. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Boeing Clearance, maintain VFR at or below two thousand five hundred, departure frequency one one niner point two, squawk four six one two.
4. YouAt or below two thousand five hundred, departure one one niner point two, squawk four six one two, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
5. YouBoeing 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, Boeing Ground, runway one four left, taxi via Alpha, hold short of runway one four left.
7. YouRunway one four left, taxi via Alpha, hold short of runway one four left, 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. YouBoeing Tower, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, holding short runway one four left, ready for departure, northbound.
10. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Boeing Tower, runway one four left, cleared for takeoff.
11. YouRunway one four left, cleared for takeoff, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
12. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, contact Seattle Approach one one niner point two.
13. Youone one niner point two, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
14. YouSeattle 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, Seattle 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. YouBoeing Tower, Cessna Three One Six Zero Foxtrot, one five miles north, three thousand, with Information Bravo, landing Boeing.
19. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Boeing Tower, enter left downwind runway one four left, report midfield downwind.
20. YouEnter left downwind runway one four left, report midfield, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
21. YouBoeing Tower, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, midfield left downwind, runway one four left.
22. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, runway one four left, cleared to land, wind two seven zero at eight.
23. YouRunway one four left, 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 Boeing Ground one two one point niner.
26. YouExit next taxiway, one two one point niner, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
27. YouBoeing Ground, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, clear of runway one four 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; 3-2-5 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 →

Nearby in Washington

• KRNTRenton Municipaltowered
• KSEASeattle-Tacoma Internationaltowered
• 2S1Vashon Municipalnon-towered
• S50Auburn Municipalnon-towered
• S36Crest Airfieldnon-towered
• KPWTBremerton Ntlnon-towered