Billings Logan International (KBIL) radio calls

Towered airport with a Class C surface area

Sample calls at KBIL

Billings Logan International 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 07; 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 126.3 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. YouBillings 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, Billings Ground, runway zero seven, taxi via Alpha, hold short of runway zero seven.
4. YouRunway zero seven, taxi via Alpha, hold short of runway zero seven, 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. YouBillings Tower, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, holding short runway zero seven, ready for departure, northbound.
7. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Billings Tower, runway zero seven, cleared for takeoff.
8. YouRunway zero seven, cleared for takeoff, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
9. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, contact Billings Approach one one niner point two.
10. Youone one niner point two, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
11. YouBillings 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, Billings 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. YouBillings Approach, Cessna Three One Six Zero Foxtrot, one five miles north, three thousand five hundred, squawking one two zero zero, with Information Bravo, landing Billings, request Class Charlie service.
16. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Billings 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 Billings Tower one two seven point two.
19. YouAltimeter three zero zero one, one two seven point two, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
20. YouBillings Tower, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, five miles north, three thousand, with Bravo.
21. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Billings Tower, enter left downwind runway zero seven, report midfield downwind.
22. YouEnter left downwind runway zero seven, report midfield, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
23. YouBillings Tower, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, midfield left downwind, runway zero seven.
24. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, runway zero seven, cleared to land, wind two seven zero at eight.
25. YouRunway zero seven, 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 Billings Ground one two one point niner.
28. YouExit next taxiway, one two one point niner, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
29. YouBillings Ground, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, clear of runway zero seven, 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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