From: peted@microsoft.com (Peter Duniho)
Subject: Re: Radio procedures at controlled airports
Date: 22 Jan 93 02:40:09 GMT
Organization: Microsoft Corporation

In article <93020.35980.L697187@LMSC5.IS.LMSC.LOCKHEED.COM> L697187@LMSC5.IS.LMSC.LOCKHEED.COM writes:
>...but what I do need is info on radio PROCEDURE.  At controlled
>airports with no clearance delivery, do you ask for your clearance
>from ground before you request to taxi or do you wait and request from
>the tower?  Any other tips on radio procedure at small and large
>controlled airports appreciated.

Well, the AIM could probably answer better than I, and I've found
that a good procedure, if you're ever in a situation where you're
not sure of what to do is to ask the controller (ground, if you're
on the ground wanting to take off, and tower, if you're coming in
and want to land).

It sounds like part (or maybe most) of what you're interested in
is IFR procedures.  I don't have an IFR rating, so I don't know
what's normal and what's not, but at Boeing Field, pilots are given
clearances by ground control before they taxi, from what I've
overheard on the radio.

Anyway, for what it's worth, here's my general procedures:
    Takeoff:
      * All contacts are of the form "Who you want, who you are,
        where you are, and what you want" with "what ATIS you've
        heard" upon initial contact.
      * Before taxiing, contact ground to taxi to the runway.
      * Do your runup, and then contact tower to ask to take off.
    Landing:
      * Same rule for contacts.
      * Make sure you hear "cleared to land runway xx" before you
        land.  If you don't hear it, ask for it!
      * Leave the runway as soon as possible, stop just past the
        hold line, and ask for clearance to taxi.  Normally, you'll
        be told to change to ground control, and you'll ask for
        taxi clearance on that frequency, but occasionally, the
        tower will be handling both air traffic and ground control.

Now, here's a fairly long example, based on the typical procedures
at Boeing Field.  Feel free to skip this...
(assume that I'm taking off from Boeing Field, in Cessna 115FR.  I'll
put a description of BFI at the end)

    Contact ground control, saying "Boeing ground, Cessna 115FR
        at Wings Aloft for north-west departure, with Sierra"
    This tells ground control that I wish to taxi to a runway
        from the ramp at Wings Aloft (my flying club), what plane
        I'm flying, and the latest ATIS that I've heard (generally
        just moments before asking to taxi).  I make this call
        _before_ crossing the white hold line.
    Ground control will come back with a hold or clearance to taxi
        to one of the runways, in my case it's usually A-9 intersection
        for runway 31L or 13R.  If you're at an airport where you're
        not familiar with where things are, just ask for a progressive
        taxi, and they'll tell you where to go as you taxi.
    Once at the runway, I do my run-up.  Part of the take off checklist
        is to set the radios.  This is where I switch to the tower
        frequency (among other things).
    Contact tower, saying "Boeing tower, Cessna 115FR at A-9 for north-
        west departure."
    Tower will come back with a hold or cleared-for-takeoff instruction.
        At this point, as long as you've read your AFD and know the
        traffic pattern, you're set.  If you're unsure, be sure to ask
        the controller!  For instance, at BFI, you'll get busted if
        you fly the usual 1000' west of the runway, because of the TCA.
        TPA is 800 there.  Stay with the controller at least until you're
        out of the ATA, and preferably longer, so you can hear other
        traffic either in- or out-bound from the airport.  Also, the
        controller may want to give you further instructions as you
        depart, to make room for other traffic.


    Landing is almost the exact opposite.  Call up tower as you come
        in, at least 5 miles out (I usually use 10, or if there's
        some standard reporting point, that (eg, at BFI, north Vashon,
        West Point/Shilshole, and north Mercer are standard call-up
        points).  They'll give you instructions for an approach, usually
        with some "next contact" point (eg, "Report two-mile final" if
        it's a straight-in approach, or maybe "report downwind at
        mid-field" if you're doing a full pattern).
    Phrasology: "Boeing tower, Cessna 115FR, West Point inbound for
        landing with Sierra."  A typical response would be "Cessna
        5FR, make straight-in approach for 13 right, report two-mile
        final."  Sometimes they'll have you report a particular landmark
        instead; either way, if you have any doubts, ask them how you'll
        know when you're at the point.
    At some point during the approach, they will actually clear you to
        land.  This usually happens at the reporting point.  Landing
        is straight-forward.  Again, if you have any doubts about the
        pattern in use, or altitudes, ask!
    After your roll-out, just exit the runway, and stop after you've
        crossed the hold line (and before you've crossed the next one
        if there's another runway to cross).  Tower will have either
        told you to remain on their frequency, or will have told you
        the ground frequency to switch to.  Don't switch the channel
        until you've been told to!
    Ask for taxi clearance back to parking the same way you asked for it
        when you left (or will ask for it when you leave).  If you
        need a progressive taxi ask for it.  Feel free to ask where
        you want to park for fuel, restrooms, restaurants, etc.

BFI description:
    Two parallel runways: 13L/31R and 13R/31L.  One is 10000 feet, the
    other is about 5000.  The short runway is along the north half of
    the long one.  The A-9 intersection is at the mid-point of the long
    runway, and us little planes use it whether the winds are north or
    south, since even half a 10000 runway is overkill.  TPA on the
    east side of the field is 1000', and TPA on the west is 800'.
    Call in points are typically north Vashon from the west, West Point
    from the north, north Mercer from the east, and Auburn or Kent
    from the south with usual reporting points (the ones the controller
    will ask for), respectively, "the reservoir", "two-mile final" or
    "West Seattle Freeway", "Seward Park", "two-mile final" or "crossing
    I-5."
-- 
Pete Duniho         "Give me a fish, or a mountain, to scale..."
peted@microsoft.com              -- Toy Matinee