Class D Radio Communications
Taxi Call to Ground
You“Gillespie ground, Cessna 734BT”base of the tower with Alpha, taxi 27R, eastbound departure” OR
“Gillespie ground, Cessna 734BT”base of the tower with Alpha, taxi 27R, remaining in the pattern”
Ground“Cessna 734BT, Gillespie ground, taxi 27R, via Alpha, Delta, cross runway 35”
You“Taxi 27R, via Alpha, Delta, cross runway 35”
Tower Departure Call
You“Gillespie tower, Cessna 734BT, ready for departure, 27R, eastbound” OR
“Gillespie tower, Cessna 734BT, ready for departure, remaining in the pattern”
Tower“Cessna 734BT, cleared for takeoff 27R, right downwind approved” OR
“Cessna 734BT, cleared for takeoff 27R, make righttraffic, report abeam the tower”
You“Cleared for takeoff 27R, right downwind, 4BT” OR
“Cleared for takeoff 27R, right traffic, report abeam, 4BT”
Tower Landing Call
You“Gillespie tower, Cessna 734BT, Barona Casinoat 3,500 with Alpha”
Tower“Cessna 734BT, report 3 mile final for 27R” (or possibly some other instruction, like the golf course)
You“Report 3 mile final for 27R, 4BT”
You (at 3 mi)“4BT is 3 miles”
Tower“Cessna 4BT, cleared to land, runway 27R”
You“Cleared to land, 27R, 4BT”
Post Landing Taxi Call to Ground (after post landing checklist and Tower switches you to Ground)
You “Gillespie ground, Cessna 734BT, off 27L at Alpha, taxibase of the tower”OR “Back to 27L”
Ground“Cessna 734BT, taxi to base of the tower via Alpha” OR “Taxi 27L via Delta”
You“Taxi to the base of the towerviaAlpha, 4BT OR “Taxi 27L via Delta, 4BT”
The above communication format represents best practice in aviation communication. However, saying it perfectly takes second place to understanding and being understood. The main thing is to be clear. You don’t have to talk like a 20 year airline captain. If all else fails, make sure you understand what ATC is telling you to do and that they know what you are going to do. When in doubt, clarify. Finally, think what you are going to say before keying the mike. ATC will not appreciate you tying up the frequency when you obviously haven’t thought ahead about what you want to say.
You will make communication mistakes, so don’t worry about it. Do your best and learn from each flight.
Cross Country Radio Communications
Call to San Diego Flight Service
YouSan Diego Radio, Cessna 734BT, 5 East of Gillespie, request activation of my flight plan to Hemet as of 3:30 local
Flight ServiceCessna 734BT, flight plan activated, weather along your route of flight is blah blah. Flight plan can be closed on 122.4 or 800-992-7433
You4BT thanks
Initial Call to SOCAL (either 124.35 east of SEE or 125.3 abeam RNM)
You“SOCAL Approach, Cessna 734BT, VFR Request”
SOCAL“Cessna 734BT say request”
You“Cessna 734BT is a Cessna 172/A, 5 east of Ramona, 4,500 climbing 8,500, request flight following to Hemet”
SOCAL“Cessna 734BT, squawk 5746 and Ident
You“Squawk 5646”
SOCAL“Cessna 734BT radar contact 5 east of Ramona”
You“4BT”
All Subsequent Calls to SOCAL on Handoffs
You“SOCAL Approach, Cessna 734BT, 4,500”
SOCAL“Cessna 734BT roger, altimeter 2993”
You“2993 4BT”
The basic idea behind all calls to Approach Control, Tower or Ground follows this formula:
Who I am (Airplane Make and Call Sign)
Where I am (Position/Altitude)
What I want (Taxi, Landing, or Flight Following)