Doing a bit of housecleaning and came across some Interesting Things. Among other stuff, I unearthed some of my old flight recordings. Because I’m now officially done with classes and need something else to occupy my time, I edited it down a bit, typed up a transcript, and thought I’d share.

Click the playback button below to hear the audio. What you’re listening to is the departure leg of my first solo flight out of Capital City Airport several summers back. I was flying N172FW, a 1998 Cessna 172, on a fairly calm day with near-perfect visibility. The recording has been pretty heavily edited for time and effect, so some of the things I say or do are actually either out of place or heavily abridged in the recording. The transcript below has some notes to show you what was going on.

If anyone is interested in flight training, Capital City is easily the best facility around. The fleet is modern and meticulously maintained by on-site Cessna-certified mechanics and technicians. The instructors are great, too. Everyone there is very passionate about flying, and that really makes a difference. They offer an intro flight for — if memory serves me — $59, which puts you in the air and behind the controls (with an instructor, of course) for a brief, 30-minute flight.

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ME: “Capital City ground, November one seven two foxtrot whiskey”

This is how you get the ground controller’s attention.

CAP CITY: “Cessna one seven two foxtrot whiskey, Cap City ground”

ME: “One seven two foxtrot whiskey is at the Jet Center ramp with sierra, requesting Capital City One departure to the Carlisle practice area at two thousand.”

Cessna N172FW is currently idling in front of the Jet Center hangar. I have ATIS information version “sierra” (the current version). I’d like to head to the Carlisle practice area at an altitude of two thousand feet AGL (above ground level; not the same as above sea level). I’m specifically requesting the “Capital City One departure”, which means that I already know the Harrisburg Departure frequency, will stay below two thousand feet, will not actually go on the runway until explicitly instructed, and am requesting radar coverage until I leave Harrisburg airspace.

CAP CITY: “Cessna two foxtrot whiskey, roger, taxi runway two six”

I’m assigned to runway 26, giving me a westerly departure.

ME: “Taxi runway two six, one seven two foxtrot whiskey”

We are expected to read back most instructions that we’re given.

OTHER AIRCRAFT #1: “Capital City ground, Lancair six five zero eight bravo”

Another pilot paging ground control. Ground is busy handling me, so this pilot gets temporarily ignored.

CAP CITY: “November two foxtrot whiskey: via Cap City One departure, squawk zero three four six.”

Ground control asked me to set my transponder code to 0346, and to confirm that I have requested a “Capital City One” departure.

ME: “Zero three four six, two foxtrot whiskey for Capital City One departure”

Confirming that I have set my transponder to 0346, and am confirming that I want / understand a “Capital City One” departure.

CAP CITY: “Other aircraft calling ground, say again”
OTHER AIR #1: “Yes, this is Lancair six five zero eight bravo at the Jet Center with sierra, I’d like to get a departure out the Carlisle practice area at three thousand.”
CAP CITY: “Lancair zero eight bravo, taxi runway two six”

OTHER AIR #1: “Taxi two six, zero eight bravo”
CAP CITY: “Cessna two foxtrot whiskey, you’ll be following an Aztec turning on golf to runway two six off your left”

All of the taxiways are marked by letters; instead of “turn left on Front Street”, I get “turn left on golf”. Ground control is advising me to watch out for another aircraft; in this case, a Piper Aztec.

ME: “Two foxtrot whiskey”

It’s not necessary to read EVERYTHING back; sometimes a simple acknowledgement like this is fine.

CAP CITY: “Lifeguard six hundred lima lima roger, proceed as requested. Use caution from the non-movement area. Wind three two zero at five, altimeter three zero two two. And Lifeguard six hundred lima lima, contact Harrisburg tower now, one two four point eight.”

Cap City Tower is advising a rescue / medical helicopter (Lifeguard N600LL) that winds are currently 320 degrees (roughly north-northwest) at five knots. Set (calibrate) your altimeter to 30.22. Contact Harrisburg Tower (at Harrisburg International Airport) on frequency 124.800.

ME: “Capital City, two foxtrot whiskey holding short runway two six, ready for departure.”

I’m letting the tower know that I’ve completed my final pre-flight checklist and am stopped just short of the runway, ready to go.

CAP CITY: “Cessna two foxtrot whiskey, Cap City tower, proceed on course to Carlisle practice area. Runway two six, cleared for takeoff.”
ME: “Clear for takeoff two six, two foxtrot whiskey.”

CAP CITY: “Lancair zero eight bravo, the Cessna off ahead also going to Carlisle practice area. He’ll be at two thousand feet. Maintain visual separation with that Cessna. Proceed on course, clear for takeoff.”

Tower is now clearing the Lancair behind me for takeoff as well.

CAP CITY: “Aztec five eight papa, hold short, awaiting departure release.”

58P doesn’t get to go, because he’s waiting for an IFR (instrument flight) clearance from Harrisburg Departure.

CAP CITY: “Cessna two fox whiskey, traffic — a Lancair — departing behind you, also going to Carlisle practice area. Has you in sight, maintaining visual.”

Warning me about the Lancair behind me; pilots don’t have rear-view mirrors. He’s also advising me that the Lancair has responsibility to maintain a safe distance from me using visual means.

ME: “All right, I’ll keep an eye out for him, two foxtrot whiskey.”
CC TOWER: “Cessna two foxtrot whiskey, contact departure.”

Since a “Capital City One” departure includes radar service, I now get to talk to Departure Control at Harrisburg International Airport.

OTHER AIRCRAFT #2: “Eight thousand, direct Harrisburg V O R, Wisconsin three eleven.”

This is a Wisconsin Air pilot repeating instructions (or intentions) to fly towards the Harrisburg VHF Omnidirectional Radio (on top of Peters Mountain). Because this is a commercial flight and thus most likely jet that has just taken off (given that he’s flying towards the VOR) from Harrisburg International Airport, he is most likely currently climbing to 8000 feet.

ME: “Harrisburg departure, Skyhawk one seven two foxtrot whiskey at one thousand two hundred.”

Hello Harrisburg Departure. How’s it going? Cessna 172FW here. As you can see on your radar, I’ve just departed Capital City and am currently at 1200 feet.

HARRISBURG DEPARTURE: “Cessna seven two foxtrot whiskey, Harrisburg. Radar contact, maintain two thousand.”

Holla back. We have you on radar. Since you didn’t say otherwise, climb to 2000 feet and hold that altitude.

ME: “Two thousand, two foxtrot whiskey.”
OTHER AIRCRAFT #1: “Harrisburg departure, Lancair six five zero eight bravo, one thousand.”

The Lancair joins us over on Departure’s frequency.

HARRISBURG: “Lancair zero eight bravo, ident. Climb and maintain three thousand.”

Since there are currently several small aircraft in close proximity, we might be difficult to spot on radar. Departure asked the Lancair to trigger his transponder’s “ident” feature, which causes his radar image to briefly bloom; this makes him easier for Harrisburg Departure to spot.

OTHER AIR #1: “Ident, climbing three thousand, zero eight bravo.”
HARRISBURG: “Lancair zero eight bravo, radar contact one mile west of Capital City.”

Harrisburg sees him now, and he’s now one mile west of Cap City Airport.

HARRISBURG: “Wisconsin three eleven, contact New York Center, one three two point two, good day.”

Wisconsin flight 311 is leaving the area, and will talk to New York Center on frequency 132.200 for the rest of their flight.

OTHER AIR #2: “Thirty two point two, Wisconsin three eleven, good day.”
HARRISBURG: “Cessna two foxtrot whiskey, traffic off your left less than a mile westbound is a Lancair, has you in sight, maintaining visual separation, also proceeding to Carlisle.”

Harrisburg departure letting me know about the Lancair, in case I wasn’t aware and/or didn’t see him.

ME: “Two foxtrot whiskey.”
OTHER AIR #3: “Harrisburg Departure, Aztec four five five eight papa off Capital City, twelve hundred.”
HARRISBURG: “Aztec four five five eight papa, Harrisburg. Ident. Climb and maintain six thousand.”
OTHER AIR #3: “Ok, five eight papa, we’re out of thirteen hundred for six thousand.”
HARRISBURG: “Aztec four five five eight papa, radar contact one mile west of Capital City.”
OTHER AIR #3: “Five eight pop.”
OTHER AIR #2: “Harrisburg Departure, Lancair six five zero eight bravo, I’m going to climb to three thousand five hundred.”
HARRISBURG: “Lancair zero eight bravo, roger.”
HARRISBURG: “Aztec five eight papa, turn right, heading three zero zero.”

Aztec 58P, make a right turn until you reach heading 300 (exact northwest; he’s heading towards State College).

OTHER AIR #3: “Right turn to three zero zero, five eight pop.”
HARRISBURG: “Cessna niner five niner, contact Harrisburg, one two six point four five, good day.”

Cessna 959, switch to frequency 126.450 and begin talking to Harrisburg Tower (Harrisburg Tower is different than Harrisburg Departure and Harrisburg Approach, although they sometimes share the same controllers).

OTHER AIR #4: “Two six four five for five niner, thanks.”
HARRISBURG: “Cessna two foxtrot whiskey, clear of the T R S A, squawk one two zero zero. Radar service terminates. Frequency change approved.”

Cessna N172FW, you are passing beyond the range of our Terminal Radar Service Area. Switch your transponder to 1200. We will no longer be monitoring you on radar. You may change to whichever frequency you wish.

ME: “Squawk one two zero zero, two foxtrot whiskey, see you on the way back.”

And that’s it. In a few days I’ll post the approach leg (returning from Carlisle to Cap City), which is a little more interesting. In the meantime, I have some flight videos on YouTube — check out Centralia From Above and Downtown Harrisburg.