Savannah/Hilton Head International (KSAV) radio calls

Towered airport with a Class C surface area

Sample calls at KSAV

Savannah/Hilton Head 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 01; 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 123.75 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. YouSavannah Clearance, Cessna Three One Six Zero Foxtrot, at the ramp with Information Alpha, VFR to the north, request clearance.
3. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Savannah Clearance, maintain VFR at or below two thousand five hundred, departure frequency one one eight point four, squawk four six one two.
4. YouAt or below two thousand five hundred, departure one one eight point four, squawk four six one two, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
5. YouSavannah 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, Savannah Ground, runway zero one, taxi via Alpha, hold short of runway zero one.
7. YouRunway zero one, taxi via Alpha, hold short of runway zero one, 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. YouSavannah Tower, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, holding short runway zero one, ready for departure, northbound.
10. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Savannah Tower, runway zero one, cleared for takeoff.
11. YouRunway zero one, cleared for takeoff, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
12. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, contact Savannah Approach one one eight point four.
13. Youone one eight point four, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
14. YouSavannah 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, Savannah 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. YouSavannah Approach, Cessna Three One Six Zero Foxtrot, one five miles north, three thousand five hundred, squawking one two zero zero, with Information Bravo, landing Savannah, request Class Charlie service.
19. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Savannah 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 Savannah Tower one two five point niner seven five.
22. YouAltimeter three zero zero one, one two five point niner seven five, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
23. YouSavannah Tower, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, five miles north, three thousand, with Bravo.
24. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Savannah Tower, enter left downwind runway zero one, report midfield downwind.
25. YouEnter left downwind runway zero one, report midfield, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
26. YouSavannah Tower, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, midfield left downwind, runway zero one.
27. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, runway zero one, cleared to land, wind two seven zero at eight.
28. YouRunway zero one, 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 Savannah Ground one two one point niner.
31. YouExit next taxiway, one two one point niner, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
32. YouSavannah Ground, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, clear of runway zero one, taxi to the ramp.

If things change. The tower operates 0600-0000 local. Outside those hours the airport is a non-towered field: self-announce on the CTAF, 125.975 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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