Zamperini Field (KTOA) radio calls

Towered airport with a Class D surface area

Sample calls at KTOA

Zamperini Field 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 11L; 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 125.6 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. YouTorrance 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, Torrance Ground, runway one one left, taxi via Alpha, hold short of runway one one left.
4. YouRunway one one left, taxi via Alpha, hold short of runway one one left, 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. YouTorrance Tower, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, holding short runway one one left, ready for departure, northbound.
7. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Torrance Tower, runway one one left, cleared for takeoff.
8. YouRunway one one left, cleared for takeoff, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
9. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, contact SoCal Approach one two four point three.
10. Youone two four point three, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
11. YouSoCal 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, SoCal 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. YouTorrance Tower, Cessna Three One Six Zero Foxtrot, one five miles north, three thousand, with Information Bravo, landing Torrance.
16. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Torrance Tower, enter left downwind runway one one left, report midfield downwind.
17. YouEnter left downwind runway one one left, report midfield, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
18. YouTorrance Tower, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, midfield left downwind, runway one one left.
19. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, runway one one left, cleared to land, wind two seven zero at eight.
20. YouRunway one one left, 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 Torrance Ground one two zero point niner.
23. YouExit next taxiway, one two zero point niner, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
24. YouTorrance Ground, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, clear of runway one one left, taxi to the ramp.

If things change. The tower operates 0700-2000 local. Outside those hours the airport is a non-towered field: self-announce on the CTAF, 124.0 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 →
• How to read the ATIS →

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