Portland International (KPDX) radio calls

Towered airport with a Class C surface area

Sample calls at KPDX

Portland 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 03; 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. YouPortland Clearance, Cessna Three One Six Zero Foxtrot, at the ramp with Information Alpha, VFR to the north, request clearance.
3. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Portland Clearance, maintain VFR at or below two thousand five hundred, departure frequency one one eight point one, squawk four six one two.
4. YouAt or below two thousand five hundred, departure one one eight point one, squawk four six one two, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
5. YouPortland 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, Portland Ground, runway zero three, taxi via Alpha, hold short of runway zero three.
7. YouRunway zero three, taxi via Alpha, hold short of runway zero three, 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. YouPortland Tower, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, holding short runway zero three, ready for departure, northbound.
10. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Portland Tower, runway zero three, cleared for takeoff.
11. YouRunway zero three, cleared for takeoff, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
12. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, contact Portland Approach one one eight point one.
13. Youone one eight point one, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
14. YouPortland 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, Portland 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. YouPortland Approach, Cessna Three One Six Zero Foxtrot, one five miles north, three thousand five hundred, squawking one two zero zero, with Information Bravo, landing Portland, request Class Charlie service.
19. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Portland 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 Portland Tower one one eight point seven.
22. YouAltimeter three zero zero one, one one eight point seven, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
23. YouPortland Tower, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, five miles north, three thousand, with Bravo.
24. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Portland Tower, enter left downwind runway zero three, report midfield downwind.
25. YouEnter left downwind runway zero three, report midfield, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
26. YouPortland Tower, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, midfield left downwind, runway zero three.
27. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, runway zero three, cleared to land, wind two seven zero at eight.
28. YouRunway zero three, 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 Portland Ground one two one point niner.
31. YouExit next taxiway, one two one point niner, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
32. YouPortland Ground, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, clear of runway zero 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 →

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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