Tstc Waco (KCNW) radio calls

Towered airport with a Class D surface area

Sample calls at KCNW

Tstc Waco 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 17L; 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. There is no ATIS frequency in the FAA data for this airport, so ask Ground for the numbers on your first call: they will give the runway, wind and altimeter.
2. YouTstc 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, Tstc Ground, runway one seven left, taxi via Alpha, hold short of runway one seven left.
4. YouRunway one seven left, taxi via Alpha, hold short of runway one seven 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. YouTstc Tower, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, holding short runway one seven left, ready for departure, northbound.
7. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Tstc Tower, runway one seven left, cleared for takeoff.
8. YouRunway one seven left, cleared for takeoff, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
9. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, contact Waco Approach one two seven point six five.
10. Youone two seven point six five, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
11. YouWaco 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, Waco 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. YouTstc Tower, Cessna Three One Six Zero Foxtrot, one five miles north, three thousand, with Information Bravo, landing Tstc.
16. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Tstc Tower, enter left downwind runway one seven left, report midfield downwind.
17. YouEnter left downwind runway one seven left, report midfield, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
18. YouTstc Tower, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, midfield left downwind, runway one seven left.
19. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, runway one seven left, cleared to land, wind two seven zero at eight.
20. YouRunway one seven 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 Tstc Ground one two one point seven.
23. YouExit next taxiway, one two one point seven, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
24. YouTstc Ground, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, clear of runway one seven 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, 124.0 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 →

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