Towered · Class C surface area
Harrisburg International (KMDT) radio calls
Harrisburg, PAICAO KMDT · FAA MDT
Harrisburg International is a towered airport in Harrisburg, PA. You will taxi with Ground on 121.7 and work Harrisburg International Tower on 124.8, after listening to the ATIS on 118.8. The approach control is Harrisburg Approach on 118.25, which is who you call for VFR flight following. The tower operates 24 hours.
The airport has a Class C surface area: two-way radio communication with the approach control must be established before entering, and a transponder with altitude reporting is required.
Frequencies
| ATIS | 118.8 |
|---|---|
| GroundHarrisburg International Ground | 121.7 |
| TowerHarrisburg International Tower | 124.8 |
| Approach / DepartureHarrisburg Approach | 118.25 |
Airport
- Runways
- 13 · 31
- Right-hand pattern
- Runway 31
- Elevation
- 310 ft
- Tower hours
- 24 hours
- Position
- 40.193, -76.763
Towered airport with a Class C surface area
Sample calls at KMDT
Harrisburg 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 13; 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.
- Listen to the ATIS on 118.8 first and note the letter; "with Information (letter)" on your first call lets the controller skip the weather (JO 7110.65 3-10-1).
- YouHarrisburg International Ground, Cessna Three One Six Zero Foxtrot, at the ramp with Information Alpha, request taxi, VFR departure to the north.
- ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Harrisburg International Ground, runway one three, taxi via Alpha, hold short of runway one three.
- YouRunway one three, taxi via Alpha, hold short of runway one three, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
- 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).
- YouHarrisburg International Tower, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, holding short runway one three, ready for departure, northbound.
- ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Harrisburg International Tower, runway one three, cleared for takeoff.
- YouRunway one three, cleared for takeoff, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
- ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, contact Harrisburg Approach one one eight point two five.
- Youone one eight point two five, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
- YouHarrisburg Approach, Cessna Three One Six Zero Foxtrot, two thousand climbing four thousand five hundred, request VFR flight following to the north.
- ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Harrisburg Approach, radar contact, altimeter three zero zero one.
- YouAltimeter three zero zero one, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
- Inbound: call the approach control before the Class C boundary; a reply with your call sign establishes communication and you may enter (AIM 3-2-4 c 3).
- YouHarrisburg Approach, Cessna Three One Six Zero Foxtrot, one five miles north, three thousand five hundred, squawking one two zero zero, with Information Bravo, landing Harrisburg International, request Class Charlie service.
- ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Harrisburg Approach, squawk four six one two, ident.
- YouSquawk four six one two, ident, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
- ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, radar contact, altimeter three zero zero one, contact Harrisburg International Tower one two four point eight.
- YouAltimeter three zero zero one, one two four point eight, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
- YouHarrisburg International Tower, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, five miles north, three thousand, with Bravo.
- ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Harrisburg International Tower, enter left downwind runway one three, report midfield downwind.
- YouEnter left downwind runway one three, report midfield, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
- YouHarrisburg International Tower, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, midfield left downwind, runway one three.
- ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, runway one three, cleared to land, wind two seven zero at eight.
- YouRunway one three, cleared to land, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
- 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).
- ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, exit at the next taxiway, contact Harrisburg International Ground one two one point seven.
- YouExit next taxiway, one two one point seven, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
- YouHarrisburg International Ground, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, clear of runway one 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; 3-2-4 c 3. What TowerTalk grades against →
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Frequencies, runways and airspace from the FAA National Airspace System Resources (NASR) 28-day subscription, cycle effective Sep 3, 2026. Training use only. Always verify against a current Chart Supplement and sectional chart before flight; frequencies change. TowerTalk is not affiliated with the FAA. Report a discrepancy.