Lubbock Preston Smith International (KLBB) radio calls

Towered airport with a Class C surface area

Sample calls at KLBB

Lubbock Preston Smith International has a Class C surface area: establish two-way communication with the approach control before entering, and keep it (AIM 3-2-4 c 3). A reply with your call sign, even "standby", establishes it. 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. Listen to the ATIS on 125.3 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. YouLubbock Clearance, Cessna Three One Six Zero Foxtrot, at the ramp with Information Alpha, VFR to the north, request clearance.
3. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Lubbock 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. YouLubbock 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, Lubbock 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. YouLubbock Tower, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, holding short runway zero eight, ready for departure, northbound.
10. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Lubbock Tower, runway zero eight, cleared for takeoff.
11. YouRunway zero eight, 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. YouLubbock Tower, Cessna Three One Six Zero Foxtrot, one five miles north, three thousand, with Information Bravo, landing Lubbock.
14. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Lubbock Tower, enter left downwind runway zero eight, report midfield downwind.
15. YouEnter left downwind runway zero eight, report midfield, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
16. YouLubbock Tower, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, midfield left downwind, runway zero eight.
17. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, runway zero eight, cleared to land, wind two seven zero at eight.
18. YouRunway zero eight, 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 Lubbock Ground one two one point niner.
21. YouExit next taxiway, one two one point niner, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
22. YouLubbock Ground, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, clear of runway zero eight, 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; 3-2-4 c 3. 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 C airport radio calls →
• How to read the ATIS →

Nearby in Texas

• F82Lubbock Executive Airparknon-towered
• F49City of Slaton/Larry t Neal Memlnon-towered
• T96Southwest Lubbocknon-towered
• KLLNLevelland Municipalnon-towered
• 2F4t-Barnon-towered
• 8F3Crosbyton Municipalnon-towered