Brushing Up on the Basics

The FAA has published an update to Advisory Circular (AC) 90-66, which pertains to aircraft operations at non-towered airports. The revision calls attention to regulatory requirements, recommended operations, and communications procedures germane to aircraft operations at airports without FAA VFR control towers, or at towered airports during those hours at which the tower is unattended.

The AC, which has been updated to reflect current procedures and best practices at airports without an operating control tower, recommends traffic patterns, communications phraseology, and operational procedures.

The AC sets forth that the pilot of an aircraft entering the traffic pattern at an airport without an operating VFR control tower is expected to observe other aircraft already in the pattern and conform to the traffic pattern in use. In the event no other aircraft are present, the inbound pilot should check on-ground traffic indicators—e.g., wind-socks, wind-“T”s, or segmented-circles—for purpose of determining which runway and traffic pattern best suit prevailing winds, topographical, or other ambient concerns.

Traffic pattern entry and turn-direction information may be found on aeronautical charts, chart supplements, approach plates, or by referring to the  Airman’s Information Manual (AIM). To mitigate the risk of mid-air collision, arriving aircraft should enter airport traffic patterns at pattern altitude, and resolutely avoid straight-in approaches.

At a minimum, all traffic inbound to, outbound form, or overflying a given airport should monitor subject airport’s Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF) for the following intervals or from the following distances:

• For departures, a minimum of ten-minutes prior to taxi.
• For arrivals a minimum of ten-miles out from the airport—farther at high ground-speeds. What’s more, arrivals should broadcast their intentions well before entering the airport traffic pattern.

Failure to follow recommended communication procedures has contributed to near midair collisions, and could, ergo, be construed careless and reckless operation of an aircraft.

Pilots should communicate and coordinate their takeoff intentions with aircraft in and inbound to the airport traffic pattern. Such communications should include announcements of the departure runway, the direction of flight on departure, and whether the pilot of the departing aircraft intends to remain in the airport traffic pattern.

Pilots are reminded that use of the phrase “Any traffic in the area, please advise” is not contained in the Pilot Controller Glossary as a recognized self-announce position and/or intention phrase, and should not, therefore, be used under any circumstances.

FMI: www.faa.gov, https://faa-aae.my.site.com/s/hotline