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Radio calls at Des Moines International Airport

KDSM · Des Moines, IA · Towered

Frequencies

Approach / Departure118.6
ATIS119.55
Clearance Delivery134.15
Ground121.9
Tower118.3
UNICOM122.95

Runways

05/2313/31

e.g. runway 05 is “runway zero five” on the radio.

What to say at Des Moines International Airport

Departing
Listen to ATISATIS119.55
  • Copy the weather and information letter before you call.
ClearanceCLEARANCE134.15
  • Des Moines Clearance, Cessna One Two Three Four Five, VFR departure to the [direction], request frequencies.
TaxiGROUND121.9
  • Des Moines Ground, Cessna One Two Three Four Five, at the ramp, taxi for departure with information [X].
TakeoffTOWER118.3
  • Des Moines Tower, Cessna One Two Three Four Five, holding short runway 05, ready for departure.
  • Read back: "Cleared for takeoff runway 05, Cessna One Two Three Four Five."
Arriving
Listen to ATISATIS119.55
  • Get the current information letter before your inbound call.
ApproachAPPROACH118.6
  • Des Moines Approach, Cessna One Two Three Four Five, [position], inbound landing, with information [X].
LandingTOWER118.3
  • Des Moines Tower, Cessna One Two Three Four Five, [position], inbound.
  • Read back: "Cleared to land runway 05, Cessna One Two Three Four Five."
Taxi inGROUND121.9
  • Clear of the runway: "Des Moines Ground, Cessna One Two Three Four Five, clear of 05, taxi to parking."

Example phraseology with this field's real frequencies. Replace the call sign and information letter with your own.

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Frequency and runway data from public sources (OurAirports). Always verify against current charts — not for navigation.

Radio calls at Des Moines International Airport (KDSM) — frequencies & what to say · Clearspar