Northwest Arkansas Ntl (KXNA) radio calls

Towered airport with a Class C surface area

Sample calls at KXNA

Northwest Arkansas Ntl 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 16L; 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 119.425 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. YouNorthwest Arkansas Ntl 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, Northwest Arkansas Ntl Ground, runway one six left, taxi via Alpha, hold short of runway one six left.
4. YouRunway one six left, taxi via Alpha, hold short of runway one six 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. YouNorthwest Arkansas Ntl Tower, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, holding short runway one six left, ready for departure, northbound.
7. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Northwest Arkansas Ntl Tower, runway one six left, cleared for takeoff.
8. YouRunway one six left, cleared for takeoff, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
9. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, contact Razorback Approach one two six point six.
10. Youone two six point six, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
11. YouRazorback 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, Razorback Approach, radar contact, altimeter three zero zero one.
13. YouAltimeter three zero zero one, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
14. 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).
15. YouRazorback Approach, Cessna Three One Six Zero Foxtrot, one five miles north, three thousand five hundred, squawking one two zero zero, with Information Bravo, landing Northwest Arkansas Ntl, request Class Charlie service.
16. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Razorback Approach, squawk four six one two, ident.
17. YouSquawk four six one two, ident, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
18. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, radar contact, altimeter three zero zero one, contact Northwest Arkansas Ntl Tower one two seven point one.
19. YouAltimeter three zero zero one, one two seven point one, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
20. YouNorthwest Arkansas Ntl Tower, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, five miles north, three thousand, with Bravo.
21. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Northwest Arkansas Ntl Tower, enter left downwind runway one six left, report midfield downwind.
22. YouEnter left downwind runway one six left, report midfield, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
23. YouNorthwest Arkansas Ntl Tower, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, midfield left downwind, runway one six left.
24. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, runway one six left, cleared to land, wind two seven zero at eight.
25. YouRunway one six left, cleared to land, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
26. 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).
27. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, exit at the next taxiway, contact Northwest Arkansas Ntl Ground one two one point niner.
28. YouExit next taxiway, one two one point niner, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
29. YouNorthwest Arkansas Ntl Ground, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, clear of runway one six left, taxi to the ramp.

If things change. The tower operates 0530-2300 local. Outside those hours the airport is a non-towered field: self-announce on the CTAF, 127.1 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 →
• Class C airport radio calls →
• How to request VFR flight following →
• How to read the ATIS →

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