Rickenbacker International (KLCK) radio calls

Towered airport with a Class D surface area

Sample calls at KLCK

Rickenbacker 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 05L; 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 132.75 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. YouRick Tower Clearance, Cessna Three One Six Zero Foxtrot, at the ramp with Information Alpha, VFR to the north, request clearance.
3. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Rick Tower 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. YouRick Tower 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, Rick Tower Ground, runway zero five left, taxi via Alpha, hold short of runway zero five left.
7. YouRunway zero five left, taxi via Alpha, hold short of runway zero five 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. YouRick Tower Tower, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, holding short runway zero five left, ready for departure, northbound.
10. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Rick Tower Tower, runway zero five left, cleared for takeoff.
11. YouRunway zero five 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. YouRick Tower Tower, Cessna Three One Six Zero Foxtrot, one five miles north, three thousand, with Information Bravo, landing Rick Tower.
14. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Rick Tower Tower, enter left downwind runway zero five left, report midfield downwind.
15. YouEnter left downwind runway zero five left, report midfield, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
16. YouRick Tower Tower, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, midfield left downwind, runway zero five left.
17. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, runway zero five left, cleared to land, wind two seven zero at eight.
18. YouRunway zero five 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 Rick Tower Ground one two five point two seven five.
21. YouExit next taxiway, one two five point two seven five, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
22. YouRick Tower Ground, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, clear of runway zero five 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 read the ATIS →

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