Philadelphia International (KPHL) radio calls

Towered airport inside Class B

Sample calls at KPHL

Philadelphia International sits inside Class B airspace: an explicit ATC clearance is required before entering it (AIM 3-2-3 b), and you will hear "cleared into the Bravo" or you stay out. The calls below use runway 08; 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. YouPhiladelphia Clearance, Cessna Three One Six Zero Foxtrot, at the ramp with Information Alpha, VFR to the north, request clearance.
3. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Philadelphia Clearance, maintain VFR at or below two thousand five hundred, departure frequency one two three point eight, squawk four six one two.
4. YouAt or below two thousand five hundred, departure one two three point eight, squawk four six one two, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
5. YouPhiladelphia 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, Philadelphia Ground, runway zero eight, taxi via Alpha, hold short of runway zero eight.
7. YouRunway zero eight, taxi via Alpha, hold short of runway zero eight, 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. YouPhiladelphia Tower, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, holding short runway zero eight, ready for departure, northbound.
10. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Philadelphia Tower, runway zero eight, cleared for takeoff.
11. YouRunway zero eight, cleared for takeoff, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
12. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, contact Philadelphia Approach one two three point eight.
13. Youone two three point eight, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
14. YouPhiladelphia 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, Philadelphia Approach, radar contact, altimeter three zero zero one.
16. YouAltimeter three zero zero one, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
17. Inbound: call the approach control well before the Class B boundary and do not enter until you hear a clearance with the word "cleared" in it (JO 7110.65 7-9-2).
18. YouPhiladelphia Approach, Cessna Three One Six Zero Foxtrot, one five miles north, three thousand five hundred, with Information Bravo, landing Philadelphia, request clearance into the Bravo.
19. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Philadelphia Approach, squawk four six one two, cleared into the Bravo airspace, maintain three thousand five hundred, fly heading one eight zero.
20. YouSquawk four six one two, cleared into the Bravo, maintain three thousand five hundred, heading one eight zero, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
21. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, contact Philadelphia Tower one one eight point five.
22. Youone one eight point five, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
23. YouPhiladelphia Tower, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, five miles north, three thousand, with Bravo.
24. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Philadelphia Tower, enter left downwind runway zero eight, report midfield downwind.
25. YouEnter left downwind runway zero eight, report midfield, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
26. YouPhiladelphia Tower, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, midfield left downwind, runway zero eight.
27. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, runway zero eight, cleared to land, wind two seven zero at eight.
28. YouRunway zero eight, 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 Philadelphia Ground one two one point niner.
31. YouExit next taxiway, one two one point niner, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
32. YouPhiladelphia Ground, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, clear of runway zero eight, 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; 3-2-3; JO 7110.65 7-9-2. 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 B transition: asking to cross the Bravo →
• How to request VFR flight following →

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