Clearance in to "C"
 

So when you cotact a very busy approach to enter C airspace. Does "stan by N1111" good enough to enter? Or do you have to have them say "radar contact" before allowing your self to enter? From what I understand, "aircraft calling stand by" is used when you are not allowed to enter. HOwever if they read back the tail number, we are allowed to enter.

Yes, you have permission to enter.

Class B is the only one where you need to hear "N1111 cleared through Class B airspace."

The explanation I give my students is if you hear ATC call your tail number back in Class C/D, that's considered two-way radio communication. Unless, obviously, they tell you to remain outside, which I've seen happen a handful of times.

I agree that if you hear your calll sign, you can enter.

If you get "aircraft over the freeway standby" that may imply (in the controller's mind) that you should not enter the airspace so be careful with that one. Personally I think that if they want you to stay out they should tell you to remain outside airspace instead of relying on radio semantics.

Any controllers want to chime in?

Yes, your N number is two way radio comm for the purpose of entering class C/D airspace.

In my humble opinion tho, you're more expected to hear them say something to the effect "Calling burbank tower, standby.".... instead of your N number and stand by. They know the ins and odds of radio phraseology as this is their almost one and only tool.

When 'C' airspace towers don't want you in they won't acknowledge your sign... and when they don't mind you in they'll say your sign and if busy, will discuss later what you need and where you're going.

I have heard and been asked to remain clear of class C many times. Pretty common when things are busy. i.e. lots of IFR traffic and you being VFR pop up traffic.

However, I have only heard the tower controllers ask traffic to remain outside of the class D only a couple of times. Actually, i've only heard it at VNY. The east runway had about 10 aircraft in the pattern doing circuits and a huge amount of traffic inbound and traffic on the taxiway waiting to depart.

Seems to me that hearing that you need to remain clear of class D would really be more of a rare situation.

Back in the mid 90's there was an instructor out of VNY that the tower would not allow to enter the class D if they heard his voice on the tower freq. He was a disruptive screwup. But, that was just a one off case.