CTO Non-Towered Airport Operations 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: At a non-towered airport, which radio frequency is pilots expected to use for self-announce traffic advisories?
- 121.5 MHz
- 122.8 MHz CTAF or published UNICOM frequency (Correct answer)
- 123.45 MHz
- 122.0 MHz FSS
Correct answer: 122.8 MHz CTAF or published UNICOM frequency
Pilots at non-towered airports use the Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF), which may be the published UNICOM, MULTICOM, or other designated frequency.
Question 2: A pilot is departing runway 27 at a non-towered airport. Which direction should the traffic pattern turn be made after takeoff, absent other published procedures?
- Right turns
- Left turns (Correct answer)
- Straight-out departure only
- Either direction at pilot discretion
Correct answer: Left turns
FAA standard traffic pattern turns are to the left unless right-hand traffic is specifically designated and published.
Question 3: When a segmented circle is installed at a non-towered airport, what does a tetrahedron located within it indicate?
- Runway under construction
- Recommended landing direction (Correct answer)
- Wind direction
- Taxiway holding position
Correct answer: Recommended landing direction
A tetrahedron points in the recommended landing direction, helping pilots determine the preferred runway in use.
Question 4: What phraseology should a pilot use when reporting on the 45-degree entry to the downwind at a non-towered airport on CTAF?
- 'Traffic, [Airport], entering downwind, runway [X]'
- '[Airport] traffic, [aircraft ID], 45 entry, [runway], [Airport]' (Correct answer)
- '[Airport] UNICOM, request downwind clearance runway [X]'
- '[Airport] approach, [aircraft ID], entering traffic pattern'
Correct answer: '[Airport] traffic, [aircraft ID], 45 entry, [runway], [Airport]'
Self-announce calls include airport name, aircraft ID, position/maneuver, runway, and airport name again at the end for clarity.
Question 5: Which visual indicator on a non-towered airport's segmented circle shows the traffic pattern direction for a specific runway?
- Landing direction indicators (tee)
- Traffic pattern indicators (L-shaped extensions on wind cone mast) (Correct answer)
- Runway lights color coding
- PAPI light placement
Correct answer: Traffic pattern indicators (L-shaped extensions on wind cone mast)
L-shaped traffic pattern indicators attached to the segmented circle extensions show the direction of turns for each runway.
Question 6: A non-towered airport has a part-time UNICOM station that is currently closed. What frequency should be used for self-announce?
- Guard frequency 121.5 MHz
- The published CTAF for that airport (Correct answer)
- 122.0 MHz Flight Service
- Any available frequency above 122 MHz
Correct answer: The published CTAF for that airport
Pilots use the published CTAF regardless of whether UNICOM is attended, ensuring all traffic uses the same frequency.
Question 7: Under FAR 91.127, when operating at a non-towered airport with an established traffic pattern, a pilot must:
- Obtain a clearance from the nearest TRACON before entering
- Comply with the traffic pattern altitude and direction unless otherwise authorized (Correct answer)
- Use VFR flight following at all times
- File an IFR flight plan when IMC is possible
Correct answer: Comply with the traffic pattern altitude and direction unless otherwise authorized
FAR 91.127 requires pilots to comply with established traffic patterns at airports without operating control towers.
CTO Non-Towered Airport Operations 2
At a non-towered airport, which radio frequency is pilots expected to use for self-announce traffic advisories?