Wilmington Air Park (KILN) radio calls

Towered airport with a Class D surface area

Sample calls at KILN

Wilmington Air Park 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 04L; 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. YouWilmington Clearance, Cessna Three One Six Zero Foxtrot, at the ramp with Information Alpha, VFR to the north, request clearance.
3. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Wilmington Clearance, maintain VFR at or below two thousand five hundred, departure frequency one one eight point eight five, squawk four six one two.
4. YouAt or below two thousand five hundred, departure one one eight point eight five, squawk four six one two, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
5. YouWilmington 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, Wilmington Ground, runway zero four left, taxi via Alpha, hold short of runway zero four left.
7. YouRunway zero four left, taxi via Alpha, hold short of runway zero four 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. YouWilmington Tower, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, holding short runway zero four left, ready for departure, northbound.
10. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Wilmington Tower, runway zero four left, cleared for takeoff.
11. YouRunway zero four left, cleared for takeoff, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
12. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, contact Columbus Approach one one eight point eight five.
13. Youone one eight point eight five, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
14. YouColumbus 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, Columbus 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. YouWilmington Tower, Cessna Three One Six Zero Foxtrot, one five miles north, three thousand, with Information Bravo, landing Wilmington.
19. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Wilmington Tower, enter left downwind runway zero four left, report midfield downwind.
20. YouEnter left downwind runway zero four left, report midfield, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
21. YouWilmington Tower, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, midfield left downwind, runway zero four left.
22. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, runway zero four left, cleared to land, wind two seven zero at eight.
23. YouRunway zero four left, 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 Wilmington Ground one two one point six.
26. YouExit next taxiway, one two one point six, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
27. YouWilmington Ground, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, clear of runway zero four 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; 3-2-5 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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