University of Illinois/Willard (KCMI) radio calls

Towered airport with a Class C surface area

Sample calls at KCMI

University of Illinois/Willard 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 04; 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 124.85 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. YouChampaign Clearance, Cessna Three One Six Zero Foxtrot, at the ramp with Information Alpha, VFR to the north, request clearance.
3. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Champaign Clearance, maintain VFR at or below two thousand five hundred, departure frequency one two zero point one, squawk four six one two.
4. YouAt or below two thousand five hundred, departure one two zero point one, squawk four six one two, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
5. YouChampaign 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, Champaign Ground, runway zero four, taxi via Alpha, hold short of runway zero four.
7. YouRunway zero four, taxi via Alpha, hold short of runway zero four, 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. YouChampaign Tower, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, holding short runway zero four, ready for departure, northbound.
10. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Champaign Tower, runway zero four, cleared for takeoff.
11. YouRunway zero four, cleared for takeoff, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
12. Inbound: call the tower about 15 miles out, before the Class D boundary (AIM 4-3-2 a).
13. YouChampaign Tower, Cessna Three One Six Zero Foxtrot, one five miles north, three thousand, with Information Bravo, landing Champaign.
14. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Champaign Tower, enter left downwind runway zero four, report midfield downwind.
15. YouEnter left downwind runway zero four, report midfield, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
16. YouChampaign Tower, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, midfield left downwind, runway zero four.
17. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, runway zero four, cleared to land, wind two seven zero at eight.
18. YouRunway zero four, cleared to land, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
19. 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).
20. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, exit at the next taxiway, contact Champaign Ground one two one point eight.
21. YouExit next taxiway, one two one point eight, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
22. YouChampaign Ground, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, clear of runway zero four, taxi to the ramp.

If things change. The tower operates 0600-2300 local. Outside those hours the airport is a non-towered field: self-announce on the CTAF, 120.4 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 →
• Class C airport radio calls →
• How to read the ATIS →

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