Pensacola International (KPNS) radio calls

Towered airport with a Class C surface area

Sample calls at KPNS

Pensacola 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 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. Listen to the ATIS on 121.25 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. YouPensacola Clearance, Cessna Three One Six Zero Foxtrot, at the ramp with Information Alpha, VFR to the north, request clearance.
3. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Pensacola Clearance, maintain VFR at or below two thousand five hundred, departure frequency one one eight point six, squawk four six one two.
4. YouAt or below two thousand five hundred, departure one one eight point six, squawk four six one two, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
5. YouPensacola 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, Pensacola 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. YouPensacola Tower, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, holding short runway zero eight, ready for departure, northbound.
10. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Pensacola Tower, runway zero eight, cleared for takeoff.
11. YouRunway zero eight, cleared for takeoff, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
12. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, contact Pensacola Approach one one eight point six.
13. Youone one eight point six, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
14. YouPensacola 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, Pensacola 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. YouPensacola Approach, Cessna Three One Six Zero Foxtrot, one five miles north, three thousand five hundred, squawking one two zero zero, with Information Bravo, landing Pensacola, request Class Charlie service.
19. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Pensacola 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 Pensacola Tower one one niner point niner.
22. YouAltimeter three zero zero one, one one niner point niner, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
23. YouPensacola Tower, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, five miles north, three thousand, with Bravo.
24. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Pensacola Tower, enter left downwind runway zero eight, report midfield downwind.
25. YouEnter left downwind runway zero eight, report midfield, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
26. YouPensacola 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 Pensacola Ground one two one point niner.
31. YouExit next taxiway, one two one point niner, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
32. YouPensacola Ground, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, clear of runway zero eight, taxi to the ramp.

If things change. The tower operates 0530-2300 local. Outside those hours the airport is a non-towered field: self-announce on the CTAF, 119.9 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; 3-2-4 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 →
• How to read the ATIS →

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