St Louis Lambert International (KSTL) radio calls

Towered airport inside Class B

Sample calls at KSTL

St Louis Lambert International sits inside Class B airspace: an explicit ATC clearance is required before entering it (AIM 3-2-3 b), and you will hear "cleared into the Bravo" or you stay out. The calls below use runway 06; 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. YouSaint Louis Clearance, Cessna Three One Six Zero Foxtrot, at the ramp with Information Alpha, VFR to the north, request clearance.
3. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Saint Louis Clearance, maintain VFR at or below two thousand five hundred, departure frequency one three two point one two five, squawk four six one two.
4. YouAt or below two thousand five hundred, departure one three two point one two five, squawk four six one two, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
5. YouSaint Louis 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, Saint Louis Ground, runway zero six, taxi via Alpha, hold short of runway zero six.
7. YouRunway zero six, taxi via Alpha, hold short of runway zero six, 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. YouSaint Louis Tower, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, holding short runway zero six, ready for departure, northbound.
10. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Saint Louis Tower, runway zero six, cleared for takeoff.
11. YouRunway zero six, cleared for takeoff, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
12. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, contact Saint Louis Approach one three two point one two five.
13. Youone three two point one two five, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
14. YouSaint Louis 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, Saint Louis Approach, radar contact, altimeter three zero zero one.
16. YouAltimeter three zero zero one, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
17. Inbound: call the approach control well before the Class B boundary and do not enter until you hear a clearance with the word "cleared" in it (JO 7110.65 7-9-2).
18. YouSaint Louis Approach, Cessna Three One Six Zero Foxtrot, one five miles north, three thousand five hundred, with Information Bravo, landing Saint Louis, request clearance into the Bravo.
19. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Saint Louis Approach, squawk four six one two, cleared into the Bravo airspace, maintain three thousand five hundred, fly heading one eight zero.
20. YouSquawk four six one two, cleared into the Bravo, maintain three thousand five hundred, heading one eight zero, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
21. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, contact Saint Louis Tower one one eight point five.
22. Youone one eight point five, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
23. YouSaint Louis Tower, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, five miles north, three thousand, with Bravo.
24. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Saint Louis Tower, enter left downwind runway zero six, report midfield downwind.
25. YouEnter left downwind runway zero six, report midfield, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
26. YouSaint Louis Tower, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, midfield left downwind, runway zero six.
27. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, runway zero six, cleared to land, wind two seven zero at eight.
28. YouRunway zero six, 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 Saint Louis Ground one one eight point niner two five.
31. YouExit next taxiway, one one eight point niner two five, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
32. YouSaint Louis Ground, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, clear of runway zero six, 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; 3-2-3; JO 7110.65 7-9-2. 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 B transition: asking to cross the Bravo →
• How to request VFR flight following →

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