For US student pilots
Departure radio calls: from the hold line to leaving the airspace
The departure is the shortest sequence of calls in a flight and the one with the least room to get wrong, because a takeoff clearance heard incorrectly is the mistake the whole readback system exists to catch. Here is the sequence from the run-up to the frequency change, at a Class D field and then at the busier ones.
When to switch to Tower
Stay on Ground during taxi and the run-up, and change to the tower frequency when you are ready to request takeoff clearance (AIM 4-3-14 a). Not before: a “ready” call from an airplane still running up costs the tower a slot. The tower assumes turbine aircraft are ready when they reach the runway; it assumes nothing about you (b).
The “ready” call
Facility, call sign, where you are holding, ready for departure, and where you are going, so the tower can plan your turn. Say “student pilot” if you are one (AIM 4-2-4 c).
Palo Alto Tower, Cessna Three One Six Zero Foxtrot, student pilot, holding short runway three one at Alpha, ready for departure, southbound.
The takeoff clearance and its readback
The tower states the runway first, then the clearance: “runway three one, cleared for takeoff” (JO 7110.65 3-9-10 a). Your first readback must include the runway (AIM 4-4-7 b). If you are told “line up and wait” instead, read that back with the runway and do not take off: it is not a takeoff clearance (AIM 4-3-18 a 9; P/CG LINE UP AND WAIT). A departure direction or initial heading may come with the clearance; read it back too.
Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Palo Alto Tower, runway three one, cleared for takeoff, right turn out approved.
Runway three one, cleared for takeoff, right turn out, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
Intersection departures
The tower may offer an intersection, or you may ask for one. If you would rather have the full length, a different intersection, or the distance from the intersection to the end, the AIM says in capitals that you are expected to tell ATC (AIM 4-3-10 a). The clearance from an intersection names it: “runway three one at Charlie, cleared for takeoff” (7110.65 3-9-10 b). Assessing whether the remaining runway is enough is your job before you accept (4-3-10 b).
Palo Alto Tower, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, request full length.
Leaving a Class D
Stay with the tower until you are clear of the surface area. You do not need permission to leave the tower frequency once outside it (AIM 4-3-2 a), but the tower will usually say “frequency change approved” or hand you to Departure; acknowledge with your call sign and go. If you are picking up flight following, call Approach next with position, altitude, type, destination and the request (AIM 4-1-18 a 3).
Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, frequency change approved, good day.
Frequency change approved, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
Departing Class C or B
From a towered airport inside Class C, keep two-way communication with the tower and then as instructed; expect a hand-off to Departure after takeoff (AIM 3-2-4 c 4 (a)). From a satellite field without a tower inside the Class C, contact the approach control as soon as practicable after departing (c 4 (b)). Departing Class B needs a clearance to depart it: give Clearance Delivery your intended altitude and route before you taxi, expect a squawk, and ATC will normally tell you when you leave the Bravo (AIM 3-2-3 d 2 (b)).
The initial heading
Where Departure Control will vector you off the ground, the tower tells you the heading before takeoff, with an altitude to maintain if the heading takes you off a published procedure (AIM 5-2-8 b 1). Fly it until Departure says otherwise, and read back “resume own navigation” when it comes (P/CG).
At a towered airport — Ground, Tower and the clearances
- Before you move
- Call Ground (or Clearance Delivery) for taxi before starting to move on the movement area; state your position on the airport. [AIM 4-3-14 a, 4-3-18 a 1]
- The taxi instruction
- “Runway (number), taxi via (route)”, with hold-short instructions where you must stop. ATC never says “cleared” for a taxi. Read back the runway and any hold short. [JO 7110.65 3-7-2; AIM 4-3-18 a 9]
- Crossing a runway
- Needs an explicit “cross runway (number)”. Absence of holding instructions authorises crossing taxiways only. [AIM 4-3-18 a 5; JO 7110.65 3-7-2]
- Ready
- Switch to Tower when ready for takeoff (stay on Ground until then). Turbine aircraft are assumed ready at the runway. [AIM 4-3-14 a, b]
- Line up and wait
- “Runway (number), line up and wait” — onto the runway, not a takeoff clearance. Read it back. [P/CG; JO 7110.65 3-9-4]
- Takeoff
- “Runway (number), cleared for takeoff.” Runway first, then the clearance; read back both. [JO 7110.65 3-9-10]
- Landing
- “Runway (number), cleared to land”; “cleared for the option” lets you choose touch-and-go, stop-and-go, low approach or full stop. [JO 7110.65 3-10-5; P/CG]
- After landing
- Exit at the first available taxiway or as told; taxi clear past the hold-position markings and hold; change to Ground only when the tower says. [AIM 4-3-21, 4-3-14 c]
- Leaving the tower frequency
- Once outside the Class D you do not need permission to leave the frequency, but staying on it for traffic is good practice. [AIM 4-3-2 a]
Runway two seven, taxi via Alpha, hold short of runway one eight, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
Runway two seven, cleared for takeoff, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
Flight following & radar services for VFR
A radar facility will give a VFR aircraft traffic advisories, safety alerts, limited vectors and sequencing, workload permitting. Ask for it; it is not automatic. [AIM 4-1-15, 4-1-17, 4-1-18]
- The request
- Call sign, type, position, altitude, destination, “request VFR flight following”. Keep the first call short on a busy frequency and give details when asked. [AIM 4-1-18 a 3]
- Squawk and ident
- You will be assigned a code; read it back. Ident only when asked. [AIM 4-1-20 d]
- “Radar contact”
- You are identified; the controller may add your position and the altimeter — read back the altimeter.
- Monitor the frequency
- Stay on it; tell the controller before changing altitude or frequency. [AIM 4-1-15 b 2]
- Vectors are advisory
- “Suggested heading” — you remain responsible for VFR and for terrain. Read back a heading you are given. [AIM 4-1-17]
- Ending it
- Ask to terminate, or hear “radar service terminated, squawk VFR, frequency change approved” — acknowledge, then set 1200. [AIM 4-1-15 b 2]
Make the ready call and read back the clearance
TowerTalk's Exercise F works the departure and the pattern with an AI tower at a real US airport, and Exercise H picks up flight following after it, graded with the AIM paragraph.
Related
Study aid, written in our own words from the FAA Aeronautical Information Manual (Change 3, 7/9/26) and the Pilot/Controller Glossary, with paragraph references so you can check each point. Last reviewed 10 September 2026; awaiting review by a US flight instructor. It does not reproduce those documents and is not a substitute for them — always defer to the AIM, the current FAA publications, your instructor and your examiner. TowerTalk is not approved or endorsed by the FAA.