VFR at towered airports
Every call for a VFR flight from a towered Class D field to a Class C airport, with flight following in between: Palo Alto (KPAO) to Sacramento International (KSMF), about 80 NM. Word meanings and readback rules are in radio fundamentals; fields with no tower are in VFR untowered.
The example route
| Palo Alto (KPAO), departure | Sacramento Intl (KSMF), arrival | |
|---|---|---|
| airspace | Class D 0700–2100 local, Class G when the tower is closed | Class C |
| weather | ATIS 135.275 | D-ATIS 126.75 |
| clearance delivery | none (Class D) | 121.1 |
| ground | Palo Alto Ground 125.0 | Capitol Ground 121.7 |
| tower | Palo Alto Tower 118.6 (CTAF when closed) | Capitol Tower 125.7 |
| approach / departure | NorCal Departure 121.3 | NorCal Approach 125.25 (southwest), 125.4 (west–northeast), 127.4 (east–southeast) |
| runways | 13–31, 2,441 ft; right traffic for 31 | 17L–35R, 17R–35L; right traffic for 35R and 17R |
| notes | pattern 1,000 ft west, 800 ft east; after takeoff on 31, turn 10° right until the Dumbarton Bridge (noise) | South General Aviation parking at the south end, off Papa |
Course is about 005° magnetic, so cruise at an odd thousand + 500: 5,500 ft once clear of the San Francisco Class B above the bay. The FAA Chart Supplement and airport diagram name SMF's tower and ground "Capitol"; some older sources and sim data still say "Sacramento". Taxi routes below follow the current airport diagrams but are examples: use what ATC gives you.
ATIS and clearance delivery
| When | Who / freq | You say | Expect from ATC | You read back / do |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| engine running, before any call | KPAO ATIS 135.275 | nothing: listen | "Palo Alto information Charlie … wind three one zero at eight … altimeter three zero zero two … runway three one in use" | set the altimeter; note the letter, runway and any NOTAMs |
| departing a Class B primary airport (always) or a Class C airport that asks for it (ATIS or Chart Supplement: "VFR departures contact clearance delivery") | Clearance Delivery, e.g. KSMF 121.1 | "Capitol Clearance, Skyhawk one two three alpha bravo, VFR to Palo Alto, four thousand five hundred, with information Delta" | "Skyhawk one two three alpha bravo, departure frequency one two five point two five, squawk four five two one"; Class B adds "cleared out of Bravo airspace" or an altitude limit; or: "hold for release", "call ground when ready to taxi" | read back frequency, squawk and any altitude; set the squawk now |
| Class D field like KPAO | no clearance delivery | ask Ground for flight following in the taxi call instead | squawk and departure frequency come from Ground | as above |
If ATC says…
- "Information Delta is current": you're on an old ATIS. Say "Skyhawk three alpha bravo, have Delta" after listening.
- "Say altitude and direction of flight": they need your plan. Answer "northbound, five thousand five hundred".
- "Standby": wait; call again only if a couple of minutes pass.
- "Expect a delay": acknowledge, then stay on the frequency and don't move.
Ground and taxi
Call ground from the parking spot with ATIS copied. Taxi instructions are never "cleared": they give the runway, the route and any hold-short (AIM 4-3-18).
| When | Who / freq | You say | Expect from ATC | You read back / do |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| at the parking spot, ready to move | Palo Alto Ground 125.0 | "Palo Alto Ground, Skyhawk one two three alpha bravo, at transient parking, with information Charlie, VFR to Sacramento International, northbound departure, request flight following, request taxi" | "Skyhawk one two three alpha bravo, Palo Alto Ground, runway three one, taxi via Yankee; squawk four five two one, departure frequency one two one point three"; or: "… taxi via Yankee, hold short of taxiway Alpha"; or: "give way to the Cherokee from your right"; or: "hold position" | "Runway three one, taxi via Yankee, squawk four five two one, Skyhawk three alpha bravo"; any hold short, read back word for word |
| unsure of the route | Ground | "Skyhawk three alpha bravo, unfamiliar with the airport, request progressive taxi" | step-by-step: "turn left at Yankee, … continue …" | follow each step; stop and ask before guessing |
| route crosses a runway | Ground | nothing until instructed | "cross runway one two at Alpha" (always explicit, one runway at a time) | read it back; cross without stopping; never cross on a taxi clearance alone |
| at the run-up area | stay on Ground (AIM 4-3-14) | nothing | nothing | run-up; switch to Tower only when ready to go |
If ATC says…
- "Hold short of runway one two" (or any runway): stop before the hold-short line and read it back; ATC must hear it.
- "Hold position": stop where you are, now. Answer "holding, Skyhawk three alpha bravo".
- "Expedite taxi" or "taxi without delay": keep it moving, traffic is waiting.
- "Monitor tower": switch to the tower frequency and listen; don't call.
- "Say position": tell them the taxiway and the nearest intersection.
- If you cross a hold line or taxi the wrong way: stop, then say so ("Skyhawk three alpha bravo, stopped on Yankee short of Alpha, I think I missed the turn").
Tower: takeoff
| When | Who / freq | You say | Expect from ATC | You read back / do |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| run-up done, at the hold-short line | Palo Alto Tower 118.6 | "Palo Alto Tower, Skyhawk one two three alpha bravo, ready for departure runway three one, northbound departure" | "Skyhawk one two three alpha bravo, Palo Alto Tower, runway three one, cleared for takeoff"; or: "runway three one, line up and wait, traffic landing runway three one" (hold on the runway, max about 90 s); or: "hold short runway three one, traffic on final"; or: "runway three one, cleared for takeoff, northbound departure approved" | "Runway three one, cleared for takeoff, Skyhawk three alpha bravo"; lights on, roll |
| at an intersection | Tower | "… at Bravo, ready for departure runway three one" | "runway three one at Bravo, cleared for takeoff" | read back with the intersection |
| lined up and waiting over about 90 s | Tower | "Skyhawk three alpha bravo, holding in position runway three one" | "continue holding" or the takeoff clearance | keep waiting; never roll without "cleared for takeoff" |
If ATC says…
- "Cleared for takeoff, no delay" or "immediate": go now or say "unable" and stay put.
- "Cancel takeoff clearance": stop if still on the ground; read it back ("aborting, Skyhawk three alpha bravo") and wait.
- "Hold for wake turbulence": you're behind a heavier aircraft; wait for the new clearance.
- "Traffic, a Citation on a two-mile final": acknowledge ("traffic in sight" or "looking"); it's why you're waiting.
- "Say intentions": tell them your departure direction, or "remaining in the pattern".
- "Unable northbound departure, fly runway heading": fly it, and request your turn later.
Leaving the Delta and flight following
Flight following (radar traffic advisories for VFR) is optional, free and workload-permitting. It's not a clearance: it doesn't let you into Class B, and ATC can drop it any time (AIM 4-1-15, 4-1-18).
| When | Who / freq | You say | Expect from ATC | You read back / do |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| climbing out, with flight following set up on the ground | Tower | nothing | "Skyhawk three alpha bravo, contact NorCal Departure one two one point three" (about ½ NM past the runway end or later) | read back and switch |
| first call to departure | NorCal Departure 121.3 | "NorCal Departure, Skyhawk one two three alpha bravo, one thousand one hundred, climbing to three thousand five hundred" | "Skyhawk three alpha bravo, NorCal Departure, radar contact two miles north of Palo Alto, altimeter three zero zero two"; or: "remain outside Class Bravo airspace"; or: "ident" | read back the altimeter; comply |
| leaving the Class D with no flight following | Tower | optional: "Skyhawk three alpha bravo, request frequency change" | "frequency change approved"; outside the Class D you may leave without asking (AIM 4-3-2) | switch to your en route frequency; squawk 1200 |
| clear of the Class D, want flight following now | NorCal Approach (sectional box or EFB) | "NorCal Approach, Skyhawk one two three alpha bravo, VFR request" | "Skyhawk one two three alpha bravo, NorCal, go ahead" | then give type, position, altitude, destination, cruise altitude (Recipes) |
If ATC says…
- "Unable flight following, workload": acknowledge, squawk 1200, and try the next sector later.
- "Squawk four five two one and ident": set it, press IDENT once, read back the code.
- "Remain outside Class Bravo airspace": you're not cleared into it; stay below or around it.
- "Maintain VFR": you're on your own for clouds and terrain; nothing else changes.
- "Say altitude" / "verify altitude": state your exact altimeter reading ("three thousand four hundred").
En route handoffs
| When | Who / freq | You say | Expect from ATC | You read back / do |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATC hands you off | current NorCal sector | nothing | "Skyhawk three alpha bravo, contact NorCal Approach one two five point two five" | "One two five point two five, Skyhawk three alpha bravo"; switch, listen, check in |
| check-in on the new frequency | new sector | "NorCal Approach, Skyhawk one two three alpha bravo, five thousand five hundred" | "Skyhawk three alpha bravo, NorCal Approach, altimeter three zero zero one" | read back the altimeter |
| changing cruise altitude | current sector | "NorCal, Skyhawk three alpha bravo, climbing to five thousand five hundred" (tell them, AIM 4-1-15) | "roger"; or: "maintain three thousand five hundred for traffic" | comply or say "unable" |
| leaving to listen to the destination ATIS | current sector | "NorCal, Skyhawk three alpha bravo, request to leave the frequency for two minutes for the Sacramento weather" | "approved, report back on" | copy the ATIS; call "Skyhawk three alpha bravo, back on, with Echo" |
| ending flight following early | current sector | "NorCal, Skyhawk three alpha bravo, request to cancel flight following" | "radar service terminated, squawk VFR, frequency change approved" | squawk 1200; switch |
If ATC says…
- "Radar contact lost": you're too low or out of coverage. Climb if you can, or "roger" and keep navigating.
- "Radar service terminated, squawk VFR, frequency change approved": set 1200; you're on your own.
- "Contact NorCal on one two five point two five" and you get no answer: go back to the old frequency and say "unable contact".
- A traffic call: answer every one ("looking", "traffic in sight", "negative contact").
- "Suggest heading zero one zero for traffic": it's advisory for VFR; accept or say what you'll do instead.
Arrival: ATIS and the Class C
Class C rule: you may enter once ATC has answered using your callsign. On flight following you already have that; a handoff within NorCal keeps it (AIM 3-2-4).
| When | Who / freq | You say | Expect from ATC | You read back / do |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| about 30 NM out | KSMF D-ATIS 126.75 (on COM2, or after asking to leave the frequency) | nothing | "Sacramento International information Echo … landing and departing runway one seven left and right …" | note letter, runway, altimeter |
| handed to the SMF sector, on flight following | NorCal Approach 125.25 | "NorCal Approach, Skyhawk one two three alpha bravo, five thousand five hundred, with information Echo, landing Sacramento International" | "Skyhawk three alpha bravo, NorCal Approach, descend and maintain two thousand five hundred, expect right downwind runway one seven right"; or: "fly heading three five zero for sequencing"; or: "follow the Bonanza at your eleven o'clock, four miles" | read back altitude, heading or runway; "traffic in sight" before you can follow |
| not on flight following, about 20–25 NM out, before the outer ring | NorCal Approach 125.25 | "NorCal Approach, Skyhawk one two three alpha bravo, two five miles southwest, five thousand five hundred, with information Echo, landing Sacramento International" | "Skyhawk one two three alpha bravo, squawk four five one six" (you're in contact: enter); or: "Skyhawk one two three alpha bravo, standby" (in contact: you may enter); or: "Aircraft calling, standby" (not in contact: stay out); or: "remain outside Charlie airspace and standby" | set the squawk; only enter after hearing your callsign |
| inside about 10 NM | Approach | nothing | "Skyhawk three alpha bravo, contact Capitol Tower one two five point seven" | read back; switch |
If ATC says…
- "Remain outside Charlie airspace and standby": orbit or turn away before the ring until they call you.
- "Say intentions": "full stop at Sacramento International" or "touch-and-go, then back to Palo Alto".
- "Airport twelve o'clock, eight miles, report it in sight": answer "airport in sight" or "negative contact".
- "Resume appropriate VFR altitudes": the assigned altitude is over; pick an odd or even + 500 again.
Tower: pattern and landing
| When | Who / freq | You say | Expect from ATC | You read back / do |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| handed off by approach, or about 15 NM out at a Class D field (AIM 4-3-2) | Capitol Tower 125.7 | "Capitol Tower, Skyhawk one two three alpha bravo, eight miles southwest, two thousand five hundred, with information Echo, full stop" | "Skyhawk three alpha bravo, Capitol Tower, enter right downwind runway one seven right, report midfield"; or: "make straight-in runway one seven right, report three-mile final"; or: "enter right base"; or: "runway one seven right, cleared to land" | read back the runway and entry; report where asked |
| at the reporting point | Tower | "Skyhawk three alpha bravo, midfield right downwind, one seven right" | "Skyhawk three alpha bravo, number two, follow the Cherokee on base, runway one seven right, cleared to land"; or: "continue" (no clearance yet); or: "extend downwind, I'll call your base"; or: "make short approach" | read back the landing clearance; "traffic in sight" for the one you follow |
| on final, no clearance yet | Tower | "Skyhawk three alpha bravo, short final, one seven right" | "runway one seven right, cleared to land" or "go around" | no clearance by the threshold: go around |
| want practice | Tower, entering downwind (AIM 4-3-23) | "Skyhawk three alpha bravo, request touch-and-go" or "request the option" | "runway one seven right, cleared touch-and-go"; or: "cleared for the option"; or: "right closed traffic approved" | read back; tell them if you'll stop on the runway |
If ATC says…
- "Go around": full power, climb, say "going around, Skyhawk three alpha bravo". With no other instruction, overfly the runway, climb to pattern altitude and rejoin via crosswind (P/CG).
- "Continue": keep flying the approach; a landing clearance is coming. It's not one yet.
- "Make left three-sixty": a full circle for spacing, then resume; say "left three-sixty" back.
- "Extend downwind, I'll call your base": keep flying downwind until tower calls "turn base".
- "Change to runway one seven left, runway one seven left cleared to land": the runway changed; read the new one back.
- "Cleared to land, hold short of runway …" (LAHSO): accept only if you can stop in the distance; otherwise "unable hold short".
- "Traffic holding in position runway one seven right": expect it to take off ahead of you; watch it.
- Never make an unannounced 360° in the pattern (AIM 4-3-5).
After landing
| When | Who / freq | You say | Expect from ATC | You read back / do |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| slowing on the rollout | Tower | nothing | "Skyhawk three alpha bravo, turn left next taxiway, contact ground point seven"; or: "turn left at Alpha One One, hold short of taxiway Alpha" | exit at the first safe turnoff; cross the hold-short line; stop and switch |
| clear of the runway | Capitol Ground 121.7 | "Capitol Ground, Skyhawk one two three alpha bravo, clear of one seven right at Alpha One One, taxi to south general aviation parking" | "Skyhawk three alpha bravo, Capitol Ground, taxi to the south general aviation ramp via Alpha, Papa" | read back any hold short; taxi |
| tower gave no instruction | stay on Tower | nothing | "contact ground" when ready | don't switch until told (AIM 4-3-14) |
| filed a VFR flight plan | Flight Service (1-800-WX-BRIEF, app or "… Radio") | "close my VFR flight plan, Skyhawk one two three alpha bravo, Sacramento International" | "flight plan closed" | towers don't close VFR flight plans (AIM 5-1-14) |
"Clear of the runway" means the whole airplane is past the runway holding position markings (P/CG).
Class B clearance
Class B needs a clearance: you must hear "cleared through / to enter / out of Bravo airspace". "Radar contact", a squawk code or flight following is not a clearance (AIM 3-2-3, 7110.65 7-9-2).
| When | Who / freq | You say | Expect from ATC | You read back / do |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| outside the Class B, before its boundary | the Approach frequency charted for that sector, e.g. NorCal for San Francisco | "NorCal Approach, Skyhawk one two three alpha bravo, over Palo Alto, three thousand five hundred, request Bravo transition northbound to Petaluma, five thousand five hundred" | "Skyhawk three alpha bravo, squawk four five two one" … "radar contact … cleared through San Francisco Bravo airspace via the shoreline, maintain five thousand five hundred" | read back the whole clearance: "cleared through the Bravo via the shoreline, maintain five thousand five hundred" |
| cleared in | Approach | nothing | assigned headings, routes or altitudes | fly them exactly; say "unable" if they'd put you in cloud |
| leaving | Approach | nothing | "leaving San Francisco Bravo airspace, resume appropriate VFR altitudes" (often "radar service terminated, squawk VFR") | pick a VFR altitude; squawk 1200 if told |
If ATC says…
- "Remain outside Bravo airspace": stay out, below the shelf or around; ask again later.
- "Remain outside Bravo airspace, expect clearance in five minutes": hold outside; don't enter early.
- "Squawk four five two one" or "radar contact": still no clearance. Stay out until you hear "cleared".
Recipes
Full script: Palo Alto to Sacramento International
Flight following requested on the ground; one example of each exchange. Letters, codes and headings are made up.
(KPAO ATIS 135.275: "information Charlie, runway three one, altimeter three zero zero two")
YOU Palo Alto Ground, Skyhawk one two three alpha bravo, at transient parking, with information Charlie,
VFR to Sacramento International, northbound departure, request flight following, request taxi.
GND Skyhawk one two three alpha bravo, Palo Alto Ground, squawk four five two one, departure frequency
one two one point three, runway three one, taxi via Yankee.
YOU Squawk four five two one, one two one point three, runway three one, taxi via Yankee,
Skyhawk one two three alpha bravo.
(run-up at the run-up area, then 118.6)
YOU Palo Alto Tower, Skyhawk one two three alpha bravo, ready for departure runway three one,
northbound departure.
TWR Skyhawk one two three alpha bravo, Palo Alto Tower, runway three one, line up and wait,
traffic departing runway three one.
YOU Runway three one, line up and wait, Skyhawk one two three alpha bravo.
TWR Skyhawk three alpha bravo, runway three one, cleared for takeoff, northbound departure approved.
YOU Runway three one, cleared for takeoff, Skyhawk three alpha bravo.
TWR Skyhawk three alpha bravo, contact NorCal Departure.
YOU NorCal Departure, Skyhawk three alpha bravo.
(121.3)
YOU NorCal Departure, Skyhawk one two three alpha bravo, one thousand one hundred, climbing to
three thousand five hundred.
DEP Skyhawk one two three alpha bravo, NorCal Departure, radar contact two miles north of Palo Alto,
remain outside Class Bravo airspace, altimeter three zero zero two.
YOU Remain outside Bravo, three zero zero two, Skyhawk three alpha bravo.
DEP Skyhawk three alpha bravo, traffic one o'clock, three miles, westbound, a Cessna, two thousand five hundred.
YOU Traffic in sight, Skyhawk three alpha bravo.
YOU NorCal, Skyhawk three alpha bravo, clear of the Bravo, climbing to five thousand five hundred.
DEP Skyhawk three alpha bravo, roger.
(one or more NorCal handoffs as you cross the East Bay and the Delta; frequencies vary by sector)
DEP Skyhawk three alpha bravo, contact NorCal Approach one two five point two five.
YOU One two five point two five, Skyhawk three alpha bravo.
YOU NorCal Approach, Skyhawk one two three alpha bravo, five thousand five hundred.
APP Skyhawk three alpha bravo, NorCal Approach, altimeter three zero zero one.
YOU Three zero zero one, Skyhawk three alpha bravo. Request to leave the frequency for two minutes
for the Sacramento weather.
APP Skyhawk three alpha bravo, approved, report back on.
(D-ATIS 126.75: "information Echo, runway one seven left and right")
YOU Skyhawk three alpha bravo, back on, with Echo.
APP Skyhawk three alpha bravo, descend and maintain two thousand five hundred,
expect right downwind runway one seven right.
YOU Down to two thousand five hundred, expect right downwind one seven right,
Skyhawk three alpha bravo.
APP Skyhawk three alpha bravo, contact Capitol Tower one two five point seven.
YOU One two five point seven, Skyhawk three alpha bravo.
YOU Capitol Tower, Skyhawk one two three alpha bravo, eight miles southwest, two thousand five hundred,
with information Echo, full stop.
TWR Skyhawk three alpha bravo, Capitol Tower, enter right downwind runway one seven right,
report midfield.
YOU Right downwind one seven right, report midfield, Skyhawk three alpha bravo.
YOU Skyhawk three alpha bravo, midfield right downwind, one seven right.
TWR Skyhawk three alpha bravo, number two, follow the Cherokee on a one-mile final,
runway one seven right, cleared to land.
YOU Traffic in sight, number two, runway one seven right, cleared to land, Skyhawk three alpha bravo.
TWR Skyhawk three alpha bravo, turn left next taxiway, contact ground point seven.
YOU Left next taxiway, ground point seven, Skyhawk three alpha bravo.
(121.7, clear of the runway)
YOU Capitol Ground, Skyhawk one two three alpha bravo, clear of one seven right at Alpha One One,
taxi to south general aviation parking.
GND Skyhawk three alpha bravo, Capitol Ground, taxi to the south general aviation ramp via Alpha, Papa.
YOU Via Alpha, Papa to the south general aviation ramp, Skyhawk three alpha bravo.Leaving a Class C with clearance delivery
Return leg from KSMF. Call Clearance Delivery with the ATIS, then Ground; the tower hands you to departure.
YOU Capitol Clearance, Skyhawk one two three alpha bravo, VFR to Palo Alto, four thousand five hundred,
with information Foxtrot.
CLR Skyhawk one two three alpha bravo, departure frequency one two five point two five, squawk four five two six.
YOU One two five point two five, squawk four five two six, Skyhawk one two three alpha bravo.
YOU Capitol Ground, Skyhawk one two three alpha bravo, south general aviation ramp, with Foxtrot,
ready to taxi.
GND Skyhawk one two three alpha bravo, runway one seven right, taxi via Papa, Alpha.
YOU Runway one seven right, taxi via Papa, Alpha, Skyhawk one two three alpha bravo.
(run-up, then Capitol Tower 125.7: "ready for departure runway one seven right, southwest departure")Asking for flight following in the air
Two steps: call-up, then the details after "go ahead" (AIM 4-2-3).
YOU NorCal Approach, Skyhawk one two three alpha bravo, VFR request.
APP Skyhawk one two three alpha bravo, NorCal Approach, go ahead.
YOU Skyhawk one two three alpha bravo, a Cessna one seventy-two, five miles northeast of Palo Alto,
two thousand five hundred climbing to five thousand five hundred, request flight following
to Sacramento International.
APP Skyhawk one two three alpha bravo, squawk four five two one.
YOU Four five two one, Skyhawk one two three alpha bravo.
APP Skyhawk one two three alpha bravo, radar contact six miles northeast of Palo Alto,
altimeter three zero zero two.
YOU Three zero zero two, Skyhawk three alpha bravo.Entering a Class C without flight following
Call before the outer ring. Only your callsign in the reply lets you in.
YOU NorCal Approach, Skyhawk one two three alpha bravo, two five miles southwest, five thousand five hundred,
with information Echo, landing Sacramento International.
APP Skyhawk one two three alpha bravo, standby.
(you're in contact: you may enter, keep listening)
APP Aircraft calling NorCal, standby.
(not in contact: stay outside the Class C)Coming back to a Class D (Palo Alto)
About 15 NM out, with the ATIS; expect a pattern entry and a report point.
YOU Palo Alto Tower, Skyhawk one two three alpha bravo, one two miles east, two thousand five hundred,
with information Golf, full stop.
TWR Skyhawk one two three alpha bravo, Palo Alto Tower, enter right downwind runway three one,
report midfield.
YOU Right downwind three one, report midfield, Skyhawk one two three alpha bravo.Closed traffic for landing practice
Ask before takeoff or when entering downwind; say how many if the tower asks.
YOU Palo Alto Tower, Skyhawk one two three alpha bravo, ready for departure runway three one,
request right closed traffic.
TWR Skyhawk one two three alpha bravo, right closed traffic approved, runway three one,
cleared for takeoff.
YOU Right closed traffic, runway three one, cleared for takeoff, Skyhawk three alpha bravo.
YOU Skyhawk three alpha bravo, right downwind, request touch-and-go.
TWR Skyhawk three alpha bravo, runway three one, cleared touch-and-go.
YOU Runway three one, cleared touch-and-go, Skyhawk three alpha bravo.Go-around
Fly first, talk second.
TWR Skyhawk three alpha bravo, go around, aircraft on the runway.
YOU Going around, Skyhawk three alpha bravo.
TWR Skyhawk three alpha bravo, make right traffic, re-enter right downwind runway three one.
YOU Right traffic, re-enter right downwind three one, Skyhawk three alpha bravo.References
- FAA Aeronautical Information Manual, Basic with Change 3 (July 9, 2026) (opens in a new tab): 3-2 Class B, C, D entry; 4-1-13 ATIS, 4-1-15 and 4-1-18 radar services for VFR; 4-3 towered airport operations (patterns, taxi, readbacks, exiting the runway, option); 5-1 VFR flight plans
- FAA Order JO 7110.65BB, Air Traffic Control (opens in a new tab): what the controller says; 3-7 taxi, 3-8 sequencing and touch-and-go, 3-9 takeoff and line up and wait, 3-10 landing, 7-6 VFR radar service, 7-8 Class C, 7-9 Class B
- FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary (opens in a new tab): go around, clear of the runway, radar contact, option approach
- FAA Chart Supplement, Southwest, September 3 to October 29, 2026 (opens in a new tab): KPAO and KSMF frequencies, airspace hours, patterns and noise rules
- FAA d-TPP airport diagrams, cycle 2609 (opens in a new tab): KPAO and KSMF taxiways
- AirNav: KPAO (opens in a new tab), KSMF (opens in a new tab): quick cross-check of frequencies and runway data