Communicate with an Air Traffic Control Tower
This is a short tutorial on the basics needed in order to communicate with an airport control tower.
Steps
- Mentally go over exactly what you will say before touching the radio and keep it in mind.
- Determine your position. If you are on the ground, you will need to tell the controller exactly where you are (eg. Alpha Taxiway, General Aviation Ramp, Gate 5, Runway 20, Parking Spot 2). Look for the black and yellow position signs. If you are in the air and approaching the airport, determine the distance, MSL altitude and bearing (east, north, southeast, northwest, etc.) from the field. Make sure you contact the tower and establish two-way communications before entering class D or C airspace and obtain a clearance before entering class B airspace.
- Acquire necessary information. If you are calling tower approaching the field or talking to ground control with a request to taxi, you will need the current ATIS information if available. Also, prepare the frequencies you will need ahead of time (ATIS/AWOS, Clearance Delivery, Ground, Tower, Approach Control, Departure). Set the next frequencies in the standby radio or write them on a paper easily accessible to you in the cockpit.
- Communicate your request in a professional and organized manner. The standard format is Who you're calling, who you are (callsign), Where you are, and what you want. For example, "Heathrow ground, Cessna Golf Echo Golf November Romeo, on west apron, with information Tango, request taxi for V-F-R flight departing to the south."
- Read back any important information to ensure you received the correct message. This includes all hold-short instructions, takeoff/landing clearance (include specific runway), frequency changes, IFR clearances, etc. For example, "Los Angeles tower, Mooney Niner One Seven Victor, cleared to land runway two five left." Remember this.
Tips
- Never use the expression "Take-off" unless you are cleared for Take-Off. You are "Ready for departure" or "Departing Runway 09"
- Avoid possibly unclear words/phrases such as "okay". Use "yes" or "no", or be specific. Don't be afraid to repeat things.
- Constantly be listening for your call sign while on the tower's frequency. Besides being potentially dangerous in that you can miss an instruction, a sure way to annoy the air traffic controller is to make them repeatedly call you. Answer promptly with your call sign.
- Visit your local air traffic control tower to see first-hand what goes on to help you in the air.
- Keep your radio communication short and concise. Know what you are going to say before you speak. You may also shorten the call sign if initiated by the controller. For example, on initial contact with the tower, use your full call sign (tail number), "Centennial Tower - Cherokee four five niner romeo foxtrot - ten miles southeast with Echo at three thousand two hundred for full stop." The tower may respond with, "Cherokee niner romeo foxtrot - report five miles." (shortening 459RF to 9RF). You can now use the three letter callsign in place of the full tail number, "Report five miles - niner romeo foxtrot."
- Be aware of other aircraft with similar call signs.
