Class C Arrival Procedures
Contact the approach controller when about 25 to 30 nautical miles from the primary airport after listening to the ATIS broadcast. For example, "Tulsa Approach, Tomahawk Six Six Eight Golf Hotel, three zero miles northwest at three thousand five hundred, inbound for landing, with Zulu". The approach controller usually responds with a transponder squawk code and then provides control instructions.
To enter a Class C airspace, radio communications must be established. When the controller states your call sign, communications have been established.
When you are approaching the control tower's area of jurisdiction, the approach controller will instruct you to contact the control tower. Approach control has already forwarded your information the tower controller. As a result, your radio call to the control tower can be simplified. You just need to tell the tower controller that you are on frequency. For example, "Tulsa Tower, Tomahawk Six Six Eight Golf Hotel is with you on a five mile final for runway one eight right".
You must receive a clearance to land from the tower. A common mistake is for the controller to forget to switch the pilot to tower control, or the pilot not hear the approach controller. The pilot never calls the control tower and never receives a landing clearance. Make sure you switch to tower and receive a landing clearance. The approach controller will normally switch aircraft to tower when about five or six miles out.
After landing, tower will switch you to ground control, who will handle your taxi to parking.
Transitioning Class C Airspace
Contact the approach controller about 25 to 30 nautical miles from the primary airport of the Class C and make your transition request. For example, "Tulsa Approach, Tomahawk Six Six Eight Golf Hotel, three zero miles northwest at three thousand five hundred, to transition to the southeast, with information foxtrot". The approach controller will provide instructions, as necessary, to facilitate your transition.
Departure Procedures
After monitoring the ATIS, contact the clearance delivery controller, who will coordinate your departure with air traffic control. Advise the controller your call sign, that you are VFR, your destination, and your requested altitude. For example, "Tulsa clearance, Tomahawk Six Six Eight Golf Hotel, VFR to Joplin at three thousand five hundred with delta".
Clearance delivery will respond with departure instructions, such as, "Tomahawk Six Six Eight Golf Hotel, fly runway heading, up to but not above two thousand feet, departure frequency one two four point zero, squawk two two one four".
Next, contact ground control for taxi instructions as you would at a Class D airport. When ready for takeoff, contact the tower for takeoff clearance. When you are exiting the local area, tower will advise you to contact departure control. Departure control will then handle you until you are clear of the Class C airspace area.
Satellite Airports
Arrivals to satellite airports must contact the appropriate approach control facility if the Class C airspace will be penetrated. Satellite departures must contact approach control as soon as feasible after departure.