Albert Whitted (KSPG) radio calls

Towered airport with a Class D surface area

Sample calls at KSPG

Albert Whitted has a Class D surface area: establish two-way communication with the tower before entering (AIM 3-2-5 b 3). A reply that uses your call sign, even "standby", establishes it; "aircraft calling, standby" does not. The calls below use runway 07; 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. YouWhitted Ground, Cessna Three One Six Zero Foxtrot, at the ramp with Information Alpha, request taxi, VFR departure to the north.
3. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Whitted Ground, runway zero seven, taxi via Alpha, hold short of runway zero seven.
4. YouRunway zero seven, taxi via Alpha, hold short of runway zero seven, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
5. 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).
6. YouWhitted Tower, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, holding short runway zero seven, ready for departure, northbound.
7. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Whitted Tower, runway zero seven, cleared for takeoff.
8. YouRunway zero seven, cleared for takeoff, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
9. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, contact Tampa Approach one one niner point six five.
10. Youone one niner point six five, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
11. YouTampa Approach, Cessna Three One Six Zero Foxtrot, two thousand climbing four thousand five hundred, request VFR flight following to the north.
12. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Tampa Approach, radar contact, altimeter three zero zero one.
13. YouAltimeter three zero zero one, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
14. Inbound: call the tower about 15 miles out, before the Class D boundary (AIM 4-3-2 a).
15. YouWhitted Tower, Cessna Three One Six Zero Foxtrot, one five miles north, three thousand, with Information Bravo, landing Whitted.
16. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Whitted Tower, enter left downwind runway zero seven, report midfield downwind.
17. YouEnter left downwind runway zero seven, report midfield, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
18. YouWhitted Tower, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, midfield left downwind, runway zero seven.
19. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, runway zero seven, cleared to land, wind two seven zero at eight.
20. YouRunway zero seven, cleared to land, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
21. 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).
22. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, exit at the next taxiway, contact Whitted Ground one two one point eight.
23. YouExit next taxiway, one two one point eight, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
24. YouWhitted Ground, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, clear of runway zero seven, taxi to the ramp.

If things change. The tower operates 0700-2100 local. Outside those hours the airport is a non-towered field: self-announce on the CTAF, 127.4 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; 3-2-5 b 3; 4-3-2 a. 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 →
• First time flying into a Class D airport →
• How to request VFR flight following →

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