Class C Airspace Phraseology | What Controllers Actually Want To Hear

Here we explain Class C airspace phraseology from a controllers perspective. Here’s exactly how to talk to us from 30 miles out to landing, the way we like hearing it.

Initial Call to Approach (15-30 miles out)

What to say (this works 99% of the time): “[City] Approach, Cessna 123AB, 22 miles southeast at 5,500 with information Bravo, request Class C transition.”

What we’ll usually reply: “Cessna 123AB, radar contact, enter Class C, maintain VFR at or below 4,000, squawk 0423.”

Your readback: “Maintain VFR at or below 4,000, squawk 0423, Cessna 3AB.”

That’s it. Nothing else needed.

When We Give You a Restriction

Common restrictions you’ll hear:

“Maintain VFR at or below 3,500”
“Maintain VFR at or above 6,500”
“Remain outside Charlie until advised”

Read back every restriction exactly — we have to hear it.

Hand-off to Tower

Approach: “Cessna 123AB, contact Tower 119.1.”

You: “Tower 119.1, Cessna 3AB.”

No need to say goodbye to Approach. Just switch.

Talking to Tower in Class C

Your first call to Tower (after handoff): “[Airport] Tower, Cessna 123AB with you, 5 miles south at 3,500.”

Tower will sequence you: “Cessna 123AB, enter left base runway 17, report 3-mile final.”

You: “Left base runway 17, will report 3-mile final, Cessana 3AB.”

Landing Clearance

Tower: “Cessna 123AB, runway 17 cleared to land.”

You: “Runway 17 cleared to land, Cessna 3AB.”

Leaving Class C

If you’re on flight following: Approach: “Radar service terminated, squawk VFR, frequency change approved.”

You: “Squawk VFR, frequency change approved, thanks for the help, Cessna 3AB.”

Real Example of Class C Airspace Phraseology

Student (perfect): “Austin Approach, Skyhawk 512RW, 18 southeast at 5,500 with Delta, request Class C transition.”

Me: “Skyhawk 512RW, radar contact, enter Class C, maintain VFR at or below 4,000, squawk 4571.”

Student: “Maintain VFR at or below 4,000, squawk 4571, 2 Romeo Whiskey.”

15 seconds total. Flawless.

What If We’re Busy?

Approach: “Cessna 789AB, remain outside Class C, expect 10 minutes.”

You: “Remaining outside Class C, Cessna 9AB.”

Just fly a racetrack or orbit. We’ll call you when we can.

The Biggest Mistakes We See in Class C (And How to Avoid Them)

After thousands of Class C operations, three mistakes show up every single shift:

Waiting too long to call. If you’re 8–10 miles out and haven’t talked to Approach yet, we’re already juggling ten other airplanes. Call 20–30 miles out, we have way more options.
Over-explaining on initial contact. “Approach, this is Cessna 456AB, I’m a student pilot on a cross-country from XYZ to ABC and I have information Charlie and I’d like to transition your airspace if that’s okay…” We only needed the first 12 words.
Not reading back altitude or heading restrictions. If I say “maintain at or below 4,000,” I legally have to hear it back “at or below 4,000.” No readback = I have to ask again and the frequency gets clogged.

Fix those three things and you instantly become one of the pilots we remember in a good way.

One last pro tip: if the frequency is slammed and you’re not in a hurry, a simple “Approach, Cessna 789AB has information Delta when you have time” works wonders. We’ll get to you faster because you just made our life easier.

Class C Airspace Phraseology Summary

The entire key to smooth Class C airspace phraseology is keeping every transmission short, clear, and in the same order controllers expect. From the initial Approach call 20–30 miles out to the final “frequency change approved” when you leave, good Class C airspace phraseology removes 90 % of the stress most student pilots feel. Use the examples above on your next flight and you’ll hear the difference immediately, controllers will answer faster, give you better routing, and you’ll sound like you belong on frequency. Master Class C airspace phraseology early and every other controlled-airspace conversation (Class B, TRACON hand-offs, even Center) becomes dramatically easier.