the Eastern Iowa (KCID) radio calls

Towered airport with a Class C surface area

Sample calls at KCID

the Eastern Iowa 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 09; 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 124.15 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. YouCedar Rapids Clearance, Cessna Three One Six Zero Foxtrot, at the ramp with Information Alpha, VFR to the north, request clearance.
3. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Cedar Rapids Clearance, maintain VFR at or below two thousand five hundred, departure frequency one three four point zero five, squawk four six one two.
4. YouAt or below two thousand five hundred, departure one three four point zero five, squawk four six one two, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
5. YouCedar Rapids 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, Cedar Rapids Ground, runway zero niner, taxi via Alpha, hold short of runway zero niner.
7. YouRunway zero niner, taxi via Alpha, hold short of runway zero niner, 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. YouCedar Rapids Tower, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, holding short runway zero niner, ready for departure, northbound.
10. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Cedar Rapids Tower, runway zero niner, cleared for takeoff.
11. YouRunway zero niner, cleared for takeoff, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
12. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, contact Cedar Rapids Approach one three four point zero five.
13. Youone three four point zero five, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
14. YouCedar Rapids 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, Cedar Rapids Approach, radar contact, altimeter three zero zero one.
16. YouAltimeter three zero zero one, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
17. 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).
18. YouCedar Rapids Approach, Cessna Three One Six Zero Foxtrot, one five miles north, three thousand five hundred, squawking one two zero zero, with Information Bravo, landing Cedar Rapids, request Class Charlie service.
19. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Cedar Rapids Approach, squawk four six one two, ident.
20. YouSquawk four six one two, ident, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
21. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, radar contact, altimeter three zero zero one, contact Cedar Rapids Tower one one eight point seven.
22. YouAltimeter three zero zero one, one one eight point seven, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
23. YouCedar Rapids Tower, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, five miles north, three thousand, with Bravo.
24. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Cedar Rapids Tower, enter left downwind runway zero niner, report midfield downwind.
25. YouEnter left downwind runway zero niner, report midfield, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
26. YouCedar Rapids Tower, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, midfield left downwind, runway zero niner.
27. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, runway zero niner, cleared to land, wind two seven zero at eight.
28. YouRunway zero niner, cleared to land, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
29. 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).
30. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, exit at the next taxiway, contact Cedar Rapids Ground one two one point six.
31. YouExit next taxiway, one two one point six, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
32. YouCedar Rapids Ground, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, clear of runway zero niner, taxi to the ramp.

If things change. The tower operates 0500-2330 local. Outside those hours the airport is a non-towered field: self-announce on the CTAF, 118.7 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; 3-2-4 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 →
• What "cleared for takeoff" means →
• What "cleared to land" means →
• What "cleared for the option" means →
• Class C airport radio calls →
• How to request VFR flight following →
• How to read the ATIS →

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