Originally Posted by
warcock
Just treat it like any other Class C. Well worth filing a flight plan!
The below is from Redcliffe Aero Club's student training manual:
Let us now look at an example of a transit through Amberley as we track via Esk for Warwick.
You will firstly contact ‘Delivery’, who will hand you off to ‘Approach’, which is responsible for your transit. You will only contact tower (with ATIS) if you are landing.
Pilot: “Amberley Delivery, (Callsign).”
ATC prefer you to make an initial call like this as it gives them time to check for you details and to prioritise other tasks. Therefore, make your call well before the boundary to avoid orbiting or violating controlled airspace.
ATC: “(Callsign), Amberley Delivery.”
Pilot: “(Callsign), (Aircraft Type), Esk, four thousand five hundred, for Warwick, request clearance.”
As you are not making first contact with Tower or Approach, there is no requirement to report ATIS received. You could also report your position by reporting your direction and distance from Amberley e.g. three two miles North West.
As you are VFR there is not normally a requirement to report Persons on Board (POB), however, be prepared to do this, if requested.
ATC: “(Callsign), squawk one six one four, remain outside Class C airspace.”
Pilot: “Squawk one six one four, remain outside Class C airspace, (Callsign).”
ATC now looks for you on radar. Once they have ‘identified’ you, they normally respond as follows.
ATC: “(Callsign), you are identified, cleared direct Warwick, four thousand five hundred, QNH 1016.”
Now that you are identified on radar and you have established two-way communications, there is no further requirement for you to start your calls with the ATC call sign, nor state your aircraft type or
position. Sometimes ATC may ask you to verify your altitude to ensure it matches the radar or they may ask for your preferred level.
Pilot: “Direct Warwick, four thousand five hundred, QNH 1016, (Callsign).”
ATC: “(Callsign), contact approach now on 126.2.”
Pilot: “Approach on 126.2, (Callsign).”
Remember, you are identified, so when contacting approach, you do not need to state aircraft type or position; just give your call sign and altitude. If climbing or descending, report level passing to your cleared level.
Pilot: “Amberley Approach, (Callsign), maintaining four thousand five hundred.”
ATC: “(Callsign), Amberley Approach.”
That is, it. Listen to Approach, fly very accurately. If you start to stray from your assigned altitude, or start to get off track, ATC will give you a gentle warning by saying something like “(Callsign), confirm you are maintaining four thousand five hundred, or, (Callsign), confirm you are tracking for Warwick.” ATC have let you into their airspace on the assumption you can navigate and fly a plane; do not let them down.
As you approach the boundary, Approach should contact you again.
ATC: “(Callsign), two track miles to run until the Class C boundary, control and identification services are terminated, frequency change approved.”
Pilot: “Frequency change approved, (Callsign).”
Now change to your next frequency and retain your transponder code unless you have been directed otherwise. If you treat your transponder like a radio, then you will not forget the code change. Also, be careful because sometimes the controller might say “….at the boundary, frequency change approved.”