Chandler Municipal (KCHD) radio calls

Towered airport with a Class D surface area

Sample calls at KCHD

Chandler 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 04L; 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. YouChandler 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, Chandler Ground, runway zero four left, taxi via Alpha, hold short of runway zero four left.
4. YouRunway zero four left, taxi via Alpha, hold short of runway zero four 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. YouChandler Tower, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, holding short runway zero four left, ready for departure, northbound.
7. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Chandler Tower, runway zero four left, cleared for takeoff.
8. YouRunway zero four left, cleared for takeoff, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
9. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, contact Phoenix Approach one two three point seven.
10. Youone two three point seven, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
11. YouPhoenix 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, Phoenix 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. YouChandler Tower, Cessna Three One Six Zero Foxtrot, one five miles north, three thousand, with Information Bravo, landing Chandler.
16. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Chandler Tower, enter left downwind runway zero four left, report midfield downwind.
17. YouEnter left downwind runway zero four left, report midfield, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
18. YouChandler Tower, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, midfield left downwind, runway zero four left.
19. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, runway zero four left, cleared to land, wind two seven zero at eight.
20. YouRunway zero four 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 Chandler Ground one two four point four.
23. YouExit next taxiway, one two four point four, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
24. YouChandler Ground, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, clear of runway zero four left, taxi to the ramp.

If things change. The tower operates 0600-2100 local. Outside those hours the airport is a non-towered field: self-announce on the CTAF, 126.1 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 →
• What "cleared for takeoff" means →
• What "cleared to land" means →
• What "cleared for the option" means →
• First time flying into a Class D airport →
• How to request VFR flight following →
• How to read the ATIS →

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