Lake Hood (PALH) radio calls

Towered airport with a Class D surface area

Sample calls at PALH

Lake Hood 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 14; 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. YouLake Hood Clearance, Cessna Three One Six Zero Foxtrot, at the ramp with Information Alpha, VFR to the north, request clearance.
3. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Lake Hood Clearance, maintain VFR at or below two thousand five hundred, departure frequency one one niner point one, squawk four six one two.
4. YouAt or below two thousand five hundred, departure one one niner point one, squawk four six one two, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
5. YouLake Hood 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, Lake Hood Ground, runway one four, taxi via Alpha, hold short of runway one four.
7. YouRunway one four, taxi via Alpha, hold short of runway one four, 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. YouLake Hood Tower, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, holding short runway one four, ready for departure, northbound.
10. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Lake Hood Tower, runway one four, cleared for takeoff.
11. YouRunway one four, cleared for takeoff, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
12. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, contact Anchorage Approach one one niner point one.
13. Youone one niner point one, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
14. YouAnchorage 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, Anchorage Approach, radar contact, altimeter three zero zero one.
16. YouAltimeter three zero zero one, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
17. Inbound: call the tower about 15 miles out, before the Class D boundary (AIM 4-3-2 a).
18. YouLake Hood Tower, Cessna Three One Six Zero Foxtrot, one five miles north, three thousand, with Information Bravo, landing Lake Hood.
19. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Lake Hood Tower, enter left downwind runway one four, report midfield downwind.
20. YouEnter left downwind runway one four, report midfield, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
21. YouLake Hood Tower, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, midfield left downwind, runway one four.
22. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, runway one four, cleared to land, wind two seven zero at eight.
23. YouRunway one four, cleared to land, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
24. 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).
25. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, exit at the next taxiway, contact Lake Hood Ground.
26. YouExit next taxiway, Ground, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
27. YouLake Hood Ground, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, clear of runway one four, 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; 3-2-5 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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