Standard Radio Calls

Whenever you communicate over radio, be it with ATC, ground, or other aircraft at non-towered airports, the following format should be used:

• WHO you're calling (San Carlos tower)
• WHO you are (Cessna two niner seven kilo romeo)
• WHERE you are (on sierra row)
• WHAT you want (request taxi to 12)

In cases where you're making initial contact with the tower, you should also give the ATIS identifier:

• ATIS (with delta)

For example, a request to taxi would look like:

(WHO you're calling) Palo Alto tower, (WHO you are) Citabria three eight three alpha charlie, (WHERE) on tango row, (WHAT) request taxi to 31 for straight out departure, (ATIS) with kilo.

And initial contact with tower from the air:

(WHO) San Carlos tower, (WHO) Citabria three eight three alpha charlie, (WHERE) over Crystal Springs, (WHAT) inbound for the option, (ATIS) with mike.