Orlando Sanford International (KSFB) radio calls

Towered airport with a Class C surface area

Sample calls at KSFB

Orlando Sanford 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 09C; 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 125.975 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. YouSanford Clearance, Cessna Three One Six Zero Foxtrot, at the ramp with Information Alpha, VFR to the north, request clearance.
3. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Sanford Clearance, maintain VFR at or below two thousand five hundred, departure frequency one two five point two two five, squawk four six one two.
4. YouAt or below two thousand five hundred, departure one two five point two two five, squawk four six one two, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
5. YouSanford 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, Sanford Ground, runway zero niner center, taxi via Alpha, hold short of runway zero niner center.
7. YouRunway zero niner center, taxi via Alpha, hold short of runway zero niner center, 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. YouSanford Tower, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, holding short runway zero niner center, ready for departure, northbound.
10. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Sanford Tower, runway zero niner center, cleared for takeoff.
11. YouRunway zero niner center, cleared for takeoff, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
12. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, contact Orlando Approach one two five point two two five.
13. Youone two five point two two five, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
14. YouOrlando 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, Orlando 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. YouOrlando Approach, Cessna Three One Six Zero Foxtrot, one five miles north, three thousand five hundred, squawking one two zero zero, with Information Bravo, landing Sanford, request Class Charlie service.
19. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Orlando 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 Sanford Tower one two zero point three.
22. YouAltimeter three zero zero one, one two zero point three, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
23. YouSanford Tower, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, five miles north, three thousand, with Bravo.
24. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Sanford Tower, enter left downwind runway zero niner center, report midfield downwind.
25. YouEnter left downwind runway zero niner center, report midfield, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
26. YouSanford Tower, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, midfield left downwind, runway zero niner center.
27. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, runway zero niner center, cleared to land, wind two seven zero at eight.
28. YouRunway zero niner center, 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 Sanford Ground one two one point three five.
31. YouExit next taxiway, one two one point three five, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
32. YouSanford Ground, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, clear of runway zero niner center, taxi to the ramp.

If things change. The tower operates 0630-2300 local. Outside those hours the airport is a non-towered field: self-announce on the CTAF, 120.3 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 →
• What "cleared for takeoff" means →
• What "cleared to land" means →
• What "cleared for the option" means →
• Class C airport radio calls →
• How to request VFR flight following →
• How to read the ATIS →

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