Cherry Capital (KTVC) radio calls

Towered airport with a Class D surface area

Sample calls at KTVC

Cherry Capital 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 10; 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 119.175 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. YouTraverse City 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, Traverse City Ground, runway one zero, taxi via Alpha, hold short of runway one zero.
4. YouRunway one zero, taxi via Alpha, hold short of runway one zero, 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. YouTraverse City Tower, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, holding short runway one zero, ready for departure, northbound.
7. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Traverse City Tower, runway one zero, cleared for takeoff.
8. YouRunway one zero, cleared for takeoff, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
9. Inbound: call the tower about 15 miles out, before the Class D boundary (AIM 4-3-2 a).
10. YouTraverse City Tower, Cessna Three One Six Zero Foxtrot, one five miles north, three thousand, with Information Bravo, landing Traverse City.
11. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Traverse City Tower, enter left downwind runway one zero, report midfield downwind.
12. YouEnter left downwind runway one zero, report midfield, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
13. YouTraverse City Tower, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, midfield left downwind, runway one zero.
14. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, runway one zero, cleared to land, wind two seven zero at eight.
15. YouRunway one zero, cleared to land, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
16. 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).
17. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, exit at the next taxiway, contact Traverse City Ground one two one point eight.
18. YouExit next taxiway, one two one point eight, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
19. YouTraverse City Ground, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, clear of runway one zero, taxi to the ramp.

If things change. The tower operates 0700 - 2100 EST; 0700 - 2200 EDT local. Outside those hours the airport is a non-towered field: self-announce on the CTAF, 124.2 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 read the ATIS →

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