George Bush Intcntl/Houston (KIAH) radio calls

Towered airport inside Class B

Sample calls at KIAH

George Bush Intcntl/Houston sits inside Class B airspace: an explicit ATC clearance is required before entering it (AIM 3-2-3 b), and you will hear "cleared into the Bravo" or you stay out. The calls below use runway 08L; 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. YouHouston Clearance, Cessna Three One Six Zero Foxtrot, at the ramp with Information Alpha, VFR to the north, request clearance.
3. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Houston 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. YouHouston 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, Houston Ground, runway zero eight left, taxi via Alpha, hold short of runway zero eight left.
7. YouRunway zero eight left, taxi via Alpha, hold short of runway zero eight left, 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. YouHouston Tower, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, holding short runway zero eight left, ready for departure, northbound.
10. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Houston Tower, runway zero eight left, cleared for takeoff.
11. YouRunway zero eight left, 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. YouHouston Tower, Cessna Three One Six Zero Foxtrot, one five miles north, three thousand, with Information Bravo, landing Houston.
14. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Houston Tower, enter left downwind runway zero eight left, report midfield downwind.
15. YouEnter left downwind runway zero eight left, report midfield, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
16. YouHouston Tower, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, midfield left downwind, runway zero eight left.
17. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, runway zero eight left, cleared to land, wind two seven zero at eight.
18. YouRunway zero eight left, 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 Houston Ground one one eight point five seven five.
21. YouExit next taxiway, one one eight point five seven five, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
22. YouHouston Ground, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, clear of runway zero eight left, 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; 3-2-3; JO 7110.65 7-9-2. 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 B transition: asking to cross the Bravo →

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• KHPYBaytownnon-towered