General Mitchell International (KMKE) radio calls

Towered airport with a Class C surface area

Sample calls at KMKE

General Mitchell 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 01L; 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. YouMilwaukee Clearance, Cessna Three One Six Zero Foxtrot, at the ramp with Information Alpha, VFR to the north, request clearance.
3. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Milwaukee Clearance, maintain VFR at or below two thousand five hundred, departure frequency one one eight point zero, squawk four six one two.
4. YouAt or below two thousand five hundred, departure one one eight point zero, squawk four six one two, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
5. YouMilwaukee 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, Milwaukee Ground, runway zero one left, taxi via Alpha, hold short of runway zero one left.
7. YouRunway zero one left, taxi via Alpha, hold short of runway zero one 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. YouMilwaukee Tower, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, holding short runway zero one left, ready for departure, northbound.
10. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Milwaukee Tower, runway zero one left, cleared for takeoff.
11. YouRunway zero one left, cleared for takeoff, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
12. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, contact Milwaukee Approach one one eight point zero.
13. Youone one eight point zero, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
14. YouMilwaukee 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, Milwaukee Approach, radar contact, altimeter three zero zero one.
16. YouAltimeter three zero zero one, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
17. 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).
18. YouMilwaukee Approach, Cessna Three One Six Zero Foxtrot, one five miles north, three thousand five hundred, squawking one two zero zero, with Information Bravo, landing Milwaukee, request Class Charlie service.
19. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Milwaukee Approach, squawk four six one two, ident.
20. YouSquawk four six one two, ident, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
21. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, radar contact, altimeter three zero zero one, contact Milwaukee Tower one two four point five seven five.
22. YouAltimeter three zero zero one, one two four point five seven five, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
23. YouMilwaukee Tower, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, five miles north, three thousand, with Bravo.
24. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Milwaukee Tower, enter left downwind runway zero one left, report midfield downwind.
25. YouEnter left downwind runway zero one left, report midfield, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
26. YouMilwaukee Tower, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, midfield left downwind, runway zero one left.
27. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, runway zero one left, cleared to land, wind two seven zero at eight.
28. YouRunway zero one left, cleared to land, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
29. 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).
30. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, exit at the next taxiway, contact Milwaukee Ground one two one point eight.
31. YouExit next taxiway, one two one point eight, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
32. YouMilwaukee Ground, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, clear of runway zero one 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; 3-2-4 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 request VFR flight following →

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