Battle Creek Executive at Kellogg Field (KBTL) radio calls

Towered airport with a Class D surface area

Sample calls at KBTL

Battle Creek Executive at Kellogg 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 05L; 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 128.325 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. YouBattle Creek 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, Battle Creek Ground, runway zero five left, taxi via Alpha, hold short of runway zero five left.
4. YouRunway zero five left, taxi via Alpha, hold short of runway zero five left, 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. YouBattle Creek Tower, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, holding short runway zero five left, ready for departure, northbound.
7. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Battle Creek Tower, runway zero five left, cleared for takeoff.
8. YouRunway zero five left, cleared for takeoff, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
9. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, contact Great Lakes Approach one two one point two.
10. Youone two one point two, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
11. YouGreat Lakes 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, Great Lakes Approach, radar contact, altimeter three zero zero one.
13. YouAltimeter three zero zero one, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
14. Inbound: call the tower about 15 miles out, before the Class D boundary (AIM 4-3-2 a).
15. YouBattle Creek Tower, Cessna Three One Six Zero Foxtrot, one five miles north, three thousand, with Information Bravo, landing Battle Creek.
16. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Battle Creek Tower, enter left downwind runway zero five left, report midfield downwind.
17. YouEnter left downwind runway zero five left, report midfield, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
18. YouBattle Creek Tower, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, midfield left downwind, runway zero five left.
19. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, runway zero five left, cleared to land, wind two seven zero at eight.
20. YouRunway zero five left, cleared to land, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
21. 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).
22. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, exit at the next taxiway, contact Battle Creek Ground one two one point seven.
23. YouExit next taxiway, one two one point seven, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
24. YouBattle Creek Ground, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, clear of runway zero five left, taxi to the ramp.

If things change. The tower operates 0700-2300 local. Outside those hours the airport is a non-towered field: self-announce on the CTAF, 126.825 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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