Airport Operations

Communication/Broadcast Procedures Facility at Airport Frequency Use Practice Instrument Outbound Inbound Approach UNICOM Communicate with UNICOM Before taxiing and 10 miles out. (no tower or FSS) station on published CTAF before taxiing on the Entering downwind, frequency (122.7, 122.8, 122.725, runway for departure. base, and final. 122.975, or 123.0). If unable to Leaving the runway. contact UNICOM station, use self- announce procedures on CTAF. No tower, FSS, Self-announce on MULTICOM Before taxiing and 10 miles out. Departing final or UNICOM frequency 122.9. before taxiing on the Entering downwind, approach fix (name) runway for departure. base, and final. or on final approach Leaving the runway. segment inbound. No tower in Communicate with FSS on CTAF Before taxiing and 10 miles out. Approach operation, FSS open frequency. before taxiing on the Entering downwind, completed/terminated. runway for departure. base, and final. Leaving the runway. FSS closed Self-announce on CTAF. Before taxiing and 10 miles out. (no tower) before taxiing on the Entering downwind, runway for departure. base, and final. Leaving the runway. Tower or FSS Self-announce on CTAF. Before taxiing and 10 miles out. not in operation before taxiing on the Entering downwind, runway for departure. base, and final. Leaving the runway. Figure 14-1. Recommended communication procedures. pattern altitude (normally 1,500 feet AGL.) However, if large or pilot with information, such as communication frequencies, turbine aircraft operate at your airport, it is best to remain 2,000 services available, closed runways, or airport construction. feet AGL so you are not in conflict with their traffic pattern. Three common sources of information are: When well clear of the pattern—approximately 2 miles–scan • Aeronautical Charts carefully for traffic, descend to pattern altitude, then turn right • Chart Supplement U.S. (formerly Airport/Facility to enter at 45° to the downwind leg at midfield. [Figure 14-2] Directory) An alternate method is to enter on a midfield crosswind at • Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) pattern altitude, carefully scan for traffic, announce your • Automated Terminal Information Service (ATIS) intentions, and then turn downwind. [Figure 14-3] This technique should not be used if the pattern is busy. Always Aeronautical Charts remember to give way to aircraft on the preferred 45° entry Aeronautical charts provide specific information on airports. and to aircraft already established on downwind. Chapter 16, “Navigation,” contains an excerpt from an aeronautical chart and an aeronautical chart legend, which In either case, it is vital to announce your intentions, and provides guidance on interpreting the information on the chart. remember to scan outside. Before joining the downwind leg, adjust your course or speed to blend into the traffic. Chart Supplement U.S. (formerly Airport/Facility Adjust power on the downwind leg, or sooner, to fit into Directory) the flow of traffic. Avoid flying too fast or too slow. Speeds The Chart Supplement U.S. (formerly Airport/Facility recommended by the airplane manufacturer should be used. Directory) provides the most comprehensive information on They will generally fall between 70 to 80 knots for fixed-gear a given airport. It contains information on airports, heliports, singles and 80 to 90 knots for high-performance retractable. and seaplane bases that are open to the public. The Chart Supplement U.S. is published in seven books, which are Sources for Airport Data organized by regions and are revised every 56 days. The When a pilot flies into a different airport, it is important to Chart Supplement U.S. is also available digitally at www.faa. review the current data for that airport. This data provides the 14-3