Great Falls International (KGTF) radio calls

Towered airport with a Class D surface area

Sample calls at KGTF

Great Falls International 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 03; 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 126.6 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. YouGreat Falls Clearance, Cessna Three One Six Zero Foxtrot, at the ramp with Information Alpha, VFR to the north, request clearance.
3. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Great Falls Clearance, maintain VFR at or below two thousand five hundred, departure frequency one two eight point six, squawk four six one two.
4. YouAt or below two thousand five hundred, departure one two eight point six, squawk four six one two, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
5. YouGreat Falls 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, Great Falls Ground, runway zero three, taxi via Alpha, hold short of runway zero three.
7. YouRunway zero three, taxi via Alpha, hold short of runway zero three, 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. YouGreat Falls Tower, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, holding short runway zero three, ready for departure, northbound.
10. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Great Falls Tower, runway zero three, cleared for takeoff.
11. YouRunway zero three, cleared for takeoff, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
12. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, contact Great Falls Approach one two eight point six.
13. Youone two eight point six, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
14. YouGreat Falls 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, Great Falls 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. YouGreat Falls Tower, Cessna Three One Six Zero Foxtrot, one five miles north, three thousand, with Information Bravo, landing Great Falls.
19. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Great Falls Tower, enter left downwind runway zero three, report midfield downwind.
20. YouEnter left downwind runway zero three, report midfield, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
21. YouGreat Falls Tower, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, midfield left downwind, runway zero three.
22. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, runway zero three, cleared to land, wind two seven zero at eight.
23. YouRunway zero three, 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 Great Falls Ground one two one point seven.
26. YouExit next taxiway, one two one point seven, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
27. YouGreat Falls Ground, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, clear of runway zero three, taxi to the ramp.

If things change. The tower operates 24 hours. If you cannot raise it, check the frequency and volume, then squawk 7600, remain outside the Class D until you have the traffic flow, and watch for light signals (AIM 4-2-13).

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 →
• How to read the ATIS →

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