Elkhart Municipal (KEKM) radio calls

Towered airport with a Class D surface area

Sample calls at KEKM

Elkhart 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 08; 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. YouElkhart Clearance, Cessna Three One Six Zero Foxtrot, at the ramp with Information Alpha, VFR to the north, request clearance.
3. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Elkhart Clearance, maintain VFR at or below two thousand five hundred, departure frequency one one eight point five five, squawk four six one two.
4. YouAt or below two thousand five hundred, departure one one eight point five five, squawk four six one two, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
5. YouElkhart 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, Elkhart Ground, runway zero eight, taxi via Alpha, hold short of runway zero eight.
7. YouRunway zero eight, taxi via Alpha, hold short of runway zero eight, 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. YouElkhart Tower, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, holding short runway zero eight, ready for departure, northbound.
10. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Elkhart Tower, runway zero eight, cleared for takeoff.
11. YouRunway zero eight, cleared for takeoff, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
12. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, contact South Bend Approach one one eight point five five.
13. Youone one eight point five five, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
14. YouSouth Bend 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, South Bend Approach, radar contact, altimeter three zero zero one.
16. YouAltimeter three zero zero one, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
17. Inbound: call the tower about 15 miles out, before the Class D boundary (AIM 4-3-2 a).
18. YouElkhart Tower, Cessna Three One Six Zero Foxtrot, one five miles north, three thousand, with Information Bravo, landing Elkhart.
19. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Elkhart Tower, enter left downwind runway zero eight, report midfield downwind.
20. YouEnter left downwind runway zero eight, report midfield, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
21. YouElkhart Tower, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, midfield left downwind, runway zero eight.
22. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, runway zero eight, cleared to land, wind two seven zero at eight.
23. YouRunway zero eight, cleared to land, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
24. 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).
25. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, exit at the next taxiway, contact Elkhart Ground one two one point eight.
26. YouExit next taxiway, one two one point eight, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
27. YouElkhart Ground, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, clear of runway zero eight, taxi to the ramp.

If things change. The tower operates 0700-2100 MON-FRI, 0800-1800 SAT-SUN. local. Outside those hours the airport is a non-towered field: self-announce on the CTAF, 119.5 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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