Air Traffic Control Practice

Practice the emergency procedures for a partial engine failure requiring an immediate precautionary landing. Learn to communicate calmly and concisely while managing a single-engine emergency.

Handle a medical emergency involving an incapacitated passenger while in the air. Practice declaring an emergency, receiving priority handling, and communicating aircraft condition.

Practice self-announce procedures on the Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF) at Winchester Regional Airport when the tower is closed. Learn the full sequence of position calls through the traffic pattern.

Enter the traffic pattern using the crosswind leg rather than the standard 45-degree entry. Practice identifying your position and coordinating with tower for an unconventional pattern entry.

Practice safe runway crossing procedures and learn to be alert for runway incursion risks. This scenario involves an incursion situation and the correct response.

Handle a complex sequencing scenario at a busy GA airport with multiple aircraft in the pattern. Practice number calls, following traffic, and go-around procedures.

Practice reporting a bird strike during or after a flight to ATC. Learn the proper phraseology for declaring a precautionary landing and communicating aircraft status.

Understand and practice the lost communications (NORDO) procedure for a towered airport. Learn the light gun signals and squawk 7600 procedures.

Handle an unexpected runway change while established on final approach due to a wind shift. Practice the go-around procedure and transition to the new runway.

Practice a night VFR arrival at a towered airport, including use of pilot-controlled lighting and night-specific position reporting. Learn how night operations change your situational awareness needs.

Follow noise abatement departure procedures at Sacramento Executive airport during a VFR departure. Practice incorporating noise abatement instructions into your departure briefing and execution.

Navigate the procedures for departing BWI Airport under VFR in a small aircraft. Practice establishing contact with Approach before entering Class C airspace.

Practice a short field departure request at a general aviation airport with a shorter runway. Learn to communicate your operational needs and receive appropriate clearance.

Navigate the Washington DC Special Flight Rules Area (SFRA) required procedures including DC NOTAM filing and the 30-mile ring. Practice the specific ATC communication requirements for the SFRA.

Learn how to handle a ground delay program and ground stop at a busy airport. Practice copying EDCT times and holding for release.

Request a straight-in approach from the east rather than flying the full traffic pattern. Practice communicating your position and intentions clearly to receive a straight-in clearance.

Request and establish VFR flight following services while en route cross-country. Learn how to initiate radar contact and receive basic radar services.

Practice communicating your landing intentions clearly—full stop versus touch-and-go—and how to change intentions in the pattern if needed.

Navigate through multiple ATC frequency handoffs during a cross-country flight. Practice smooth frequency changes and position reports with each new controller.

Practice requesting taxi clearance at a small towered airport as a student pilot. Learn proper readback of taxi instructions and hold short commands.

Practice a standard VFR departure from a Class D towered airport heading northbound. Learn proper runway calls, takeoff clearances, and departure instructions.

Experience a wake turbulence hold after a heavy aircraft departure at O'Hare. Practice the readback and understanding of wake turbulence advisories.

Navigate the complex taxiway system at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International with step-by-step progressive taxi instructions. Practice copying and reading back multi-segment taxi routes.

Practice requesting and receiving runway crossing clearances while taxiing at a Class C airport. Understand that each runway crossing requires a separate clearance.

Experience how a runway change mid-taxi affects your route and clearance. Practice acknowledging a new taxi route after wind shift causes runway change.

Practice requesting a different runway due to crosswind conditions exceeding your personal limits. Learn how to professionally communicate crosswind concerns to ATC.

Practice entering the traffic pattern at Manassas Regional Airport using a standard 45-degree entry to the downwind. Learn proper calls for each leg and sequencing behind other traffic.

Request a VFR transition through the Washington DC Class B airspace. Practice the specific phraseology required to request and receive a Class B clearance.

Establish contact and transit through Class C airspace at BWI without landing. Practice the two-way radio communication required for Class C entry.

Request a short approach while in the traffic pattern to expedite your landing ahead of inbound traffic. Practice the phraseology and procedure for a short approach.

You are N8823T, a Piper PA-28, arriving at Manassas Regional Airport (KHEF) from the south at 2,500 ft. Practice initial contact, entering the pattern, and landing clearance.

You are N6641Q, a Cessna 152, practicing touch-and-go landings at KGAI (Montgomery County Airpark). Practice requesting multiple circuits and tower communications during pattern work.

You are N3345F, on a VFR flight to Greenville Downtown (KGMU). Practice handling an unexpected runway change from Tower when already established on final, and the correct go-around phraseology.

You are N1234U, a Cessna 172, navigating ground operations at Dulles International (KIAD) after an inadvertent landing there. Practice progressive taxi and complex ground communications.

You are N5172SP, a Cessna 172, departing Frederick Municipal Airport (KFDK) VFR to the north. Practice taxi, run-up, and departure clearance from start to wheels-up.