Radio Communications Cheat Sheet
The assumption is that you are in patterns at KGAI.
On the Way Out
- Tune to 128.275 for AWOS (weather).
Set altimeter to the barometric pressure or to the known elevation.
- Tune to 121.6 for Potomac clearance to activate the SFRA.
You: Potomac clearance, 739BA on the ground at Gaithersburg, SFRA
Potomac: 739BA, squawk xxxx, frequency xxx.xx
You: squawk xxxx frequency xxx.xx
Enter the squawk in your transponder and turn the transponder to “ALT” following your checklist while on the ground!
- Tune to 123.075 for UNICOM to announce intention to taxi.
You: Montgomery UNICOM, 739BA at Papa section, taxiing 32 for departure.
Announce intention to take off.
You: Montgomery Traffic, 739BA to take off runway 32.
Once above pattern altitude, announce leaving pattern.
You: Montgomery Traffic, 739BA leaving the pattern to the NorthEast (or whatever direction you are going).
- Tune to 132.77 (or whatever frequency given by Potomac clearance) to announce leaving SFRA.
You: Potomac Approach, 739BA off Gaithersburg, SFRA.
Potomac: 739BA, Transponder observed, proceed on course outside of Bravo. Baltimore altimeter xx.xx
You: On course outside of Bravo, 739BA.
On the Way Back:
You: Potomac, 739BA WOOLY (or LUCKY or PALEO) gate SFRA to Gaithersburg
Potomac: 739BA, squawk xxxx, stay outside of the SFRA
You: squawk xxxx, outside of SFRA, 739BA
After a short while,
Potomac: 739BA, transponder observed, proceed on course, outside of Bravo
You: On course, outside of Bravo, 739BA
When you have the airport in site:
You: Potomac, 739BA has Gaithersburg in sight
Potomac: 739BA, keep transponder code until on the ground, frequency change approved.
You: Will keep the code until on the ground, frequency change approved, 739BA.