Palo Alto (KPAO) radio calls

Towered airport with a Class D surface area

Sample calls at KPAO

Palo Alto 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 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.

1. Listen to the ATIS on 135.275 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. YouPalo Alto Ground, Cessna Three One Six Zero Foxtrot, at the ramp with Information Alpha, request taxi, VFR departure to the north.
3. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Palo Alto Ground, runway one three, taxi via Alpha, hold short of runway one three.
4. YouRunway one three, taxi via Alpha, hold short of runway one three, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
5. 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).
6. YouPalo Alto Tower, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, holding short runway one three, ready for departure, northbound.
7. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Palo Alto Tower, runway one three, cleared for takeoff.
8. YouRunway one three, cleared for takeoff, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
9. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, contact NorCal Approach one two one point three.
10. Youone two one point three, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
11. YouNorCal Approach, Cessna Three One Six Zero Foxtrot, two thousand climbing four thousand five hundred, request VFR flight following to the north.
12. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, NorCal Approach, radar contact, altimeter three zero zero one.
13. YouAltimeter three zero zero one, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
14. Inbound: call the tower about 15 miles out, before the Class D boundary (AIM 4-3-2 a).
15. YouPalo Alto Tower, Cessna Three One Six Zero Foxtrot, one five miles north, three thousand, with Information Bravo, landing Palo Alto.
16. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Palo Alto Tower, enter left downwind runway one three, report midfield downwind.
17. YouEnter left downwind runway one three, report midfield, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
18. YouPalo Alto Tower, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, midfield left downwind, runway one three.
19. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, runway one three, cleared to land, wind two seven zero at eight.
20. YouRunway one three, cleared to land, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
21. 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).
22. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, exit at the next taxiway, contact Palo Alto Ground one two five point zero.
23. YouExit next taxiway, one two five point zero, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
24. YouPalo Alto Ground, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, clear of runway one three, taxi to the ramp.

If things change. The tower operates 0700-2100 local. Outside those hours the airport is a non-towered field: self-announce on the CTAF, 118.6 with the airport name first and last, and the surface area reverts to Class E or Class G as published in the Chart Supplement.

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 →
• How to read the ATIS →

Nearby in California

• KSQLSan Carlostowered
• KSJCMineta San Jose Internationaltowered
• KHWDHayward Executivetowered
• KSFOSan Francisco Internationaltowered
• KRHVReid-Hillview of Santa Clara Countytowered
• KOAKOakland San Francisco Baytowered