South Bend International (KSBN) radio calls

Towered airport with a Class C surface area

Sample calls at KSBN

South Bend 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 09L; 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 120.675 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. YouSouth Bend Clearance, Cessna Three One Six Zero Foxtrot, at the ramp with Information Alpha, VFR to the north, request clearance.
3. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, South Bend Clearance, maintain VFR at or below two thousand five hundred, departure frequency one three two point zero five, squawk four six one two.
4. YouAt or below two thousand five hundred, departure one three two point zero five, squawk four six one two, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
5. YouSouth Bend 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, South Bend Ground, runway zero niner left, taxi via Alpha, hold short of runway zero niner left.
7. YouRunway zero niner left, taxi via Alpha, hold short of runway zero niner left, 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. YouSouth Bend Tower, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, holding short runway zero niner left, ready for departure, northbound.
10. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, South Bend Tower, runway zero niner left, cleared for takeoff.
11. YouRunway zero niner left, cleared for takeoff, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
12. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, contact South Bend Approach one three two point zero five.
13. Youone three two point zero five, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
14. YouSouth Bend 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, South Bend 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. YouSouth Bend Approach, Cessna Three One Six Zero Foxtrot, one five miles north, three thousand five hundred, squawking one two zero zero, with Information Bravo, landing South Bend, request Class Charlie service.
19. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, South Bend 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 South Bend Tower one three five point six seven five.
22. YouAltimeter three zero zero one, one three five point six seven five, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
23. YouSouth Bend Tower, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, five miles north, three thousand, with Bravo.
24. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, South Bend Tower, enter left downwind runway zero niner left, report midfield downwind.
25. YouEnter left downwind runway zero niner left, report midfield, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
26. YouSouth Bend Tower, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, midfield left downwind, runway zero niner left.
27. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, runway zero niner left, cleared to land, wind two seven zero at eight.
28. YouRunway zero niner left, 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 South Bend Ground one two one point seven.
31. YouExit next taxiway, one two one point seven, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
32. YouSouth Bend Ground, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, clear of runway zero niner left, taxi to the ramp.

If things change. The tower operates 0530-0000 SUN-FRI, 0530-2345 SAT. local. Outside those hours the airport is a non-towered field: self-announce on the CTAF, 135.675 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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