Reno/Tahoe International (KRNO) radio calls

Towered airport with a Class C surface area

Sample calls at KRNO

Reno/Tahoe 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. 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. YouReno Clearance, Cessna Three One Six Zero Foxtrot, at the ramp with Information Alpha, VFR to the north, request clearance.
3. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Reno Clearance, maintain VFR at or below two thousand five hundred, departure frequency one one niner point two, squawk four six one two.
4. YouAt or below two thousand five hundred, departure one one niner point two, squawk four six one two, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
5. YouReno 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, Reno 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. YouReno Tower, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, holding short runway zero eight, ready for departure, northbound.
10. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Reno Tower, runway zero eight, cleared for takeoff.
11. YouRunway zero eight, cleared for takeoff, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
12. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, contact NorCal Approach one one niner point two.
13. Youone one niner point two, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
14. YouNorCal 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, NorCal 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. YouNorCal Approach, Cessna Three One Six Zero Foxtrot, one five miles north, three thousand five hundred, squawking one two zero zero, with Information Bravo, landing Reno, request Class Charlie service.
19. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, NorCal 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 Reno Tower one one eight point seven.
22. YouAltimeter three zero zero one, one one eight point seven, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
23. YouReno Tower, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, five miles north, three thousand, with Bravo.
24. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Reno Tower, enter left downwind runway zero eight, report midfield downwind.
25. YouEnter left downwind runway zero eight, report midfield, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
26. YouReno 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 Reno Ground one two one point niner.
31. YouExit next taxiway, one two one point niner, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
32. YouReno 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; 3-2-4 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 →

Nearby in Nevada

• N86Spanish Springsnon-towered
• KRTSReno/Steadnon-towered
• KCXPCarson Citynon-towered
• A34Dayton Valley Airparknon-towered
• N58Samsarg Fieldnon-towered
• KSPZSilver Springsnon-towered