Which clearance delivery frequency do I use?
Posted by riptrixie@reddit | flying | View on Reddit | 23 comments
In the context of contacting clearance delivery for an IFR clearance at a class delta airport, I’m a little confused on how Foreflight has worded some things and it’s throwing me off.
I’m use to contacting ground control at my home airport since CD and Ground are the same frequency. I also understand that sometimes they are different frequencies and that’ll be listen in the AF/D.
In this example I’ll be using KDWH and KGLS.
For KDWH, CD is obviously different from ground. Foreflight and the AF/D say the same thing.
For KGLS, this is where my confusion starts. Foreflight says CD is 135.35 when tower is closed. But the AF/D just says to contact 135.35 with nothing about that frequency being for when the tower is closed. AF/D says to call the number when ATCT is closed. So why does Foreflight says something different from AF/D?
If I had to guess on what the correct way to contact CD at KGLS is, I would contact them at 135.35. Is my understanding of this incorrect? TIA.
TxAggieMike@reddit
However you connect to obtain your clearance, don’t be This guy at KTKI, McKinney, TX.
Flagrant_negligence@reddit
Do what us pros do in the big jets. Start blasting clearance requests on all the freqs listed till someone responds. They’ll either give it to you or tell you where to go. That’s ATC’s problem. Mildly /s, but also what I actually do
WollyPollyOlly@reddit
This is the way
TripNo1876@reddit
This is the way
Frost_907@reddit
Accuracy through volume
Mundane-Reality-7770@reddit
So what you're saying is... The squeakiest wheel gets the grease. Spam and annoy ATC enough they'll give you what you want to get you to shut up
SimilarTranslator264@reddit
This applies to almost everything in life.
Mundane-Reality-7770@reddit
Yup
pronghornpilot@reddit
I was going to say this but not sarcastic.
mason_mormon@reddit
Real solutions to real problems
scottyh214@reddit
Take an educated guess. If you’re wrong, either nobody will answer or they’ll tell you the right answer.
Gabriel_Owners@reddit
You're way overthinking this. Is the tower open? Call them on ground or clearance delivery. If it's not, call center.
Taptrick@reddit
“You’re overthinking it” is definitely my opinion to a lot of aviation problems now that I have thousands of hours under my belt. Just call someone you think is logical, then go from there.
ChainringCalf@reddit
Worst case, they tell you you're wrong. And then you'll correct it.
Mispelled-This@reddit
This is fairly normal. Call ground when tower is open. I90 monitors 135.35 and 119.45 when tower is closed, so try those next. But if that doesn’t work, use the phone number as your last resort.
DearKick@reddit
Call ground. Source: flew out of Galveston ifr for years
deersindal@reddit
It looks like Foreflight just parsed the data incorrectly.
On the chart supplement it pretty clearly says to contact by phone when tower is closed.
uglygodgreenskeeper@reddit
The may list it on the ATIS. My home airport would tell you to either contact ground or clearance delivery based on how busy/ staffing levels of the tower.
TornadoTim60@reddit
Try the clearance delivery frequency first. If no response and tower is open, call on ground and politely ask if the clearance frequency is in use.
Ground will sort it for you.
Don’t overthink it 👍
officialchairforce@reddit
Do what foreflight says.
Complex-Brief69@reddit
Ground when tower is open, CD when it’s closed. Like it says there.
You can always start with ground. If they can’t help you they will tell you who can. ATC are just people. There are definitely wrong questions but this wouldn’t be one of them.
TxAggieMike@reddit
Shortly after landing, exiting the runway at GLS and getting taxi clearance from Ground…
”Galveston Ground, Bugsmasher 123… got time for a question?”
This is what I have done when landing at a controlled field and wanted a clear answer.
I have also queried the radar controller with similar question when I sensed he or she wasn’t too busy to share that info.
Due_Commission_9354@reddit
119.45