Flight Training - June 2015 - 36

Federal Aviation Regulation 61.109(iii) specifies the aeronautical experience
at a towered airport required of anyone applying for a private pilot certificate. It
reads, "Three takeoffs and three landings to a full stop (with each landing involving a flight in the traffic pattern) at an airport with an operating control tower."
Three landings and takeoffs fulfill the requirements, but they do not necessarily provide enough familiarity to make us truly confident when operating
in a towered airport environment. And since avoiding controlled airspace in
order to avoid using the radio can limit our travel options, we might enjoy
flying more-and expand our potential destinations-if we practice some fairly
simple radio communication procedures.
Fortunately, there are similarities between radio procedures for towered and nontowered airports. Let's take a look at a hypothetical arrival at
a towered airport to better understand the similarities and differences in
communications between the two environments. In most cases the radio
calls include the same basic information. The primary difference is that in a
nontowered environment, pilots report what they are doing. In the towered
environment, they request a clearance to perform the same actions.
TEN MILES OUT. Tune and listen to the automatic terminal information service. ATIS provides a running commentary on the conditions at the airport.
Along with pertinent information such as the altimeter setting, winds are
included in this broadcast, which can give you an excellent idea of which
runway is in use (many ATIS reports also specify the current active runway).
Each broadcast is labeled with a letter of the alphabet, Alpha through Zulu.
First call: "Central City Tower, Cessna One-Two-Three-Four-Five."
Tower response: "Cessna Three-Four-Five, Central City Tower."
Your reply: "Cessna Three-Four-Five is 10 miles south, inbound full stop
with Information Oscar."
Tower reply: "Three-Four-Five, report two-mile right base for Runway 9."
Your answer: "Three-Four-Five will report two-mile right base for Runway 9."
As you can see, the tower controller has made some decisions for you and
simplified your traffic pattern. Rather than having to listen to the automated
surface observation system or automated weather observation system to
determine which runway to use, then listen to the common traffic advisory

"Two-mile
right base"

"Two-mile
left base"

Final

PILOTS are sometimes confused by the tower's instruction to "report a two-mile left
(or right) base" when entering the terminal area. The tower is asking you to report
when you are two miles from intersecting the extended centerline of the runway.

36 /

FLIGHTTRAINING.AOPA.ORG

frequency to verify that traffic
is indeed using that runway, the
tower controller has assigned
a runway and an entry to the
traffic pattern.
AT THE REPORTING POINT.
The reporting point can be any
place the tower needs you. He
or she can bring you in on a
left or right downwind leg, or a
base leg, or straight in on final
approach. Generally the controller will assign you an entry
that is fairly direct for your
route of flight. That simplifies
the process for you, and the
tower controller. It also speeds
up the flow of traffic in the pattern and reduces congestion.
In some cases the controller
will assign you one runway
while assigning another
aircraft a different runway. Be
alert for this and make notes
as necessary. Stick with the
instructions the controller
gives you, and keep your eyes
outside to see and avoid other
aircraft in the pattern.
In this case, the tower asked
you to report a two-mile right
base for Runway 9. When you
are established on a right base
for that runway and positioned
two miles from the extended
centerline, you will make your
next call. Second call: "Central
City Tower, Cessna ThreeFour-Five, two-mile right base
for Runway 9."
Tower response: "Cessna
Three-Four-Five cleared to
land Runway 9."
Your reply: "Three-FourFive cleared to land Runway 9."
You are now cleared to
continue on your base leg, turn
final, and land. The runway is
yours.
ON THE GROUND. After landing, there are three options.
The controller may contact

http://FLIGHTTRAINING.AOPA.ORG

Flight Training - June 2015

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Flight Training - June 2015