0 / FLIGHT BRIEFING

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1. Conduct a IFR flight at KSNA (Class C airport)

2. Listen to the ATIS and copy it 

3. Receive clearance and read back all information

4. Contact ground for taxi

5. Contact tower for departure 

6. Contact SoCal departure and request vector for ILS RWY 20R approach

7. Perform the approach procedure following controllers' instructions

8. After landing, conduct the aircraft to south RON (Remain Overnight) area

 

1 / ATIS

 

Tune to the local ATIS frequency of KSNA on 126.00. Copy all ATIS information and obtain the current weather. If the airfield is below IFR operating minimums, the pilot must inform the controller that they have information Z. This way, pilots can set the atmospheric conditions according to their preference.

 

2 / CLEARANCE DELIVERY

 

KSNA Airport has a Clearance Delivery position, which can be referred to as Clearance, Delivery, or simply Clearance Delivery. The pilot must file their flight plan through the PilotEdge platform and, when contacting Clearance Delivery (CLR), must provide the received ATIS information and their intentions.​

Example call:

• "Clearance, N234A, IFR John Wayne to John Wayne, information M."

​At this point, the controller will issue the IFR clearance along with departure instructions following the CRAFT format:​

1. C – Clearance (routing)

2. R – Route

3. A – Altitude

4. F – Frequency

5. T – Transponder code​

Example clearance:

• "N234A, cleared to the John Wayne Airport (C), after departure fly heading 220, expect vectors to Seal Beach VOR, then direct (R). Climb and maintain 2000 feet, expect 3000 five minutes after departure (A). Departure frequency 128.10 (F), squawk 4045 (T)."

Readback Requirements:
Pilots must read back all clearance information completely and accurately. Upon verification of a correct readback, ATC will respond:​

• "N234A, readback correct."

 

3 / GROUND

 

Pilot Preparation:

    1. Confirm the aircraft’s parking position (e.g., south RON).

   2. Check the Aerodrome Chart (ADC) for possible taxi routes to the active runway.

   3. Monitor the Ground Control (GND) frequency to avoid interruptions.

 Call Structure:

• Pilot: [Airport Name] Ground, [Callsign], [Parking Position], request taxi.

Example:

• "John Wayne Ground, N234A, South RON, request taxi."

Controller (Response):

• [Callsign], [Assigned Runway], taxi via [route], hold short [runway/intersection].

Example:

• "N234A, Runway 20R, taxi via Alpha, Hotel, Charlie, Kilo, hold short Runway 20L at Kilo."

Pilot (Readback):
[Runway], taxi via [route], hold short [runway/intersection], [Callsign].
Example:

• "Runway 20R, taxi via Alpha, Hotel, Charlie, Kilo, hold short Runway 20L, N234A."

 

4 / TOWER

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Take-off clearance and communication:

• "John Wayne Tower, N234A, holding short Runway 20L at Kilo, ready for departure."

Lineup & Wait:

• "N234A, cross Runway 20L, Runway 20R at Kilo, line up and wait."

Pilot Readback:

• "Cross Runway 20L, Runway 20R at Kilo, line up and wait, N234A."

Takeoff Clearance:

• "N234A, Runway 20R at Kilo, cleared for takeoff, wind calm,."

Pilot Readback:

• "Runway 20R at Kilo, cleared for takeoff, N234A."

Takeoff Clearance:

• "N234A, Contact departure."

Pilot Readback: 

• "Departure, N234A".

 

Key Notes:

​

1. Line up and wait" ≠ takeoff clearance.

2. Do not switch to Departure without explicit instruction.

 

5 / DEPARTURE

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After Takeoff Procedures:

Shortly after takeoff, the air traffic controller (ATC) will transfer the pilot to Approach (APP) as follows:

• ATC: "N234A, contact Departure."

• Pilot readback: "Contact Departure, N234A."

The pilot then tunes to the APP frequency and makes the initial call:

• Pilot (first call): "SoCal Departure, N234A, passing 1200, climbing 2000 feet."

APP Response:

• "N234A, radar contact, climb and maintain 3000, state request when able."

• Pilot readback: "N234A, climb and maintain 3000, request vectors ILS Runway 20R approach."

ATC may then instruct:

• "N234A, turn right heading 010, radar vectors ILS Runway 20R approach."

• Pilot readback: "N234A, right heading 010."

Once stabilized on this heading, the pilot will be on the downwind leg for Runway 20R. The pilot will remain here for a few minutes, allowing time to brief the approach procedure and prepare for the next ATC instruction.

The most important Call: P.T.A.C.

1. P - Position 

2. T - Turn 

3. A - Altitude 

4. C - Clearance​

The controller will issue clearance such as:

• "N234A, 8 nautical miles from LEMON (P), turn right heading 170 (T), maintain 3000 until established (A), cleared ILS Runway 20R approach (C)."

Pilot readback (only TAC required):

• "Right heading 170 (T), maintain 3000 until established (A), cleared ILS Runway 20R approach (C), N234A."

Final Handoff to Tower

Once the pilot is established on the ILS approach, ATC will instruct:

• "N234A, contact John Wayne Tower on 126.80."

• Pilot readback: "John Wayne Tower 126.80, N234A."

 

Key Notes:

​

1. Initial call to Approach must include altitude and climb status

2. PTAC clearance is critical—pilots must read back Turn, Altitude, and Clearance (TAC).

3. No need to say you are stablished on the ILS, the controller sees it 

4. Only switch to Tower when instructed

 

6 / TOWER

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Pilots call tower whenever asked by the controller :

• "John Wayne Tower, N234A, established ILS Runway 20R approach."

Tower response (if landing is approved):

• "N234A, John Wayne Tower, Runway 20R, cleared to land."

Pilot readback:

• "Runway 20R, cleared to land, N234A."

If landing is delayed (e.g., traffic spacing):

• "N234A, continue approach, expect landing clearance."

 

7 / AFTER LANDING

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Exiting the Runway, pilots must vacate it at the nearest safe taxiway and stop after the hold-short line.

If no instructions are received, pilots must call Tower:

• "Tower, N234A, Runway vacated at [Taxiway]."

Example:

• "Tower, N234A, Runway vacated at H."

Taxi Instructions (Two Possible Scenarios)
Tower Directs Pilot to Contact Ground - Tower response:

• "N234A, for taxi instructions, contact Ground 120.80."

Pilot actions: Switch to Ground frequency (120.80) and call:

• "John Wayne Ground, N234A at H, request taxi to parking."

Ground response:

• "N234A, cross Runway 20L at H, taxi to parking via Alpha."

Pilot readback:

• "Cross Runway 20L at H, taxi to parking via Alpha, N234A."

Tower Issues Taxi Instructions Directly
Tower response:

• "N234A, John Wayne Tower, cross Runway 20L at H, taxi to parking via Alpha, monitor Ground 120.80."

Pilot readback:

• "Cross Runway 20L at H, taxi to parking via Alpha, monitor Ground 120.80, N234A."

 

Key Notes:

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1. Always wait for landing clearance before touchdown.

2. If no instructions are given after exiting the runway, proactively inform Tower.

3. Follow taxi instructions precisely and read back all clearances.

4. Monitor Ground frequency if instructed (even if Tower issues taxi instructions).