Palo Alto to San Carlos
Palo Alto (KPAO) → San Carlos (KSQL)
Flying a Cessna 172
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Route — where to say what
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Palo Alto Ground 125.0
Get the ATIS on 135.275, call Ground with your position and the ATIS letter, request taxi for a VFR departure to San Carlos, and read back the runway and any hold-short instruction.
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Palo Alto Tower 118.6
Tell the tower you are holding short and ready for departure, read back "line up and wait" or "cleared for takeoff" with the runway, and leave the Class D with a frequency change to NorCal Approach.
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NorCal Approach 121.3
Request VFR flight following to San Carlos: identification, type, position, altitude, destination. Read back the squawk, ident when asked, acknowledge "radar contact" and the altimeter, and answer any traffic with "traffic in sight" or "negative contact".
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San Carlos Tower 119.0
Call the tower about 15 miles out with the ATIS letter, read back the pattern entry and runway, report as instructed, read back "cleared to land" with the runway, exit the runway and contact Ground when told.
Show aerodrome diagram
Current leg
Palo Alto Ground · 125.0Get the ATIS on 135.275, call Ground with your position and the ATIS letter, request taxi for a VFR departure to San Carlos, and read back the runway and any hold-short instruction.
You're on the ramp at Palo Alto. Listen to the ATIS, then call Palo Alto Ground: identification, position, "with Information (letter)", request taxi VFR to San Carlos.
Make your first call to Palo Alto Ground to begin the flight.
Hold the mic or Space bar to talk · Enter to send
Kneeboard
Practice aid only — not the checkride and not a guaranteed pass. Always defer to the FAA AIM, your instructor or examiner and the FAA. Frequencies and details are indicative for practice — check the current Chart Supplement and NOTAMs before flying. Not for operational use.