CTO Non-Towered Airport Operations 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A non-towered airport has an instrument approach procedure. Who provides separation services to IFR aircraft operating in the vicinity?
- The airport's UNICOM operator
- No one; IFR pilots are solely responsible for see-and-avoid
- The Air Traffic Control facility providing approach/departure services (e.g., TRACON or ARTCC) (Correct answer)
- The local flight school FBO
Correct answer: The Air Traffic Control facility providing approach/departure services (e.g., TRACON or ARTCC)
IFR separation at non-towered airports is provided by the nearest TRACON or ARTCC; UNICOM operators cannot provide ATC services.
Question 2: What does CTAF stand for in the context of non-towered airport operations?
- Controlled Terminal Approach Frequency
- Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (Correct answer)
- Certified Tower Avoidance Facility
- Centralized Terminal Air Frequency
Correct answer: Common Traffic Advisory Frequency
CTAF (Common Traffic Advisory Frequency) is the designated frequency used for position reporting and traffic advisories at non-towered airports.
Question 3: Which circuit leg in the standard traffic pattern immediately follows the crosswind leg?
- Base leg
- Final approach
- Downwind leg (Correct answer)
- Upwind leg
Correct answer: Downwind leg
The traffic pattern sequence is upwind → crosswind → downwind → base → final; the downwind leg follows the crosswind turn.
Question 4: A Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) indicates a non-towered airport's runway is closed for maintenance. What is the pilot's obligation?
- Pilots may land if an emergency exists or if the FBO grants permission (Correct answer)
- Pilots must check NOTAM before flight but may override if the runway appears usable
- The pilot may use a parallel taxiway as a runway if clear
- All of the above are acceptable
Correct answer: Pilots may land if an emergency exists or if the FBO grants permission
A runway NOTAM closure must be respected; however, FAR 91.3 allows deviation for an emergency, making emergency landing the only valid exception.
Question 5: At a non-towered airport, what is the recommended entry procedure when arriving from the traffic pattern side of the airport?
- Fly directly to the final approach course
- Enter on the 45-degree entry to the downwind leg (Correct answer)
- Cross midfield at pattern altitude then descend to downwind
- Request vectors from the nearest approach control
Correct answer: Enter on the 45-degree entry to the downwind leg
The FAA-recommended entry at non-towered airports is a 45-degree entry to the midpoint of the downwind leg on the traffic pattern side.
Question 6: What is the primary purpose of making position reports on CTAF at a non-towered airport?
- To receive ATC separation services
- To log flight time for currency requirements
- To alert other pilots of your position and intentions for traffic awareness (Correct answer)
- To activate the airport's pilot-controlled lighting
Correct answer: To alert other pilots of your position and intentions for traffic awareness
CTAF position reports are self-announce calls intended to provide situational awareness to other pilots; no ATC service is rendered.
Question 7: What wind condition should prompt a pilot to consider using the opposite runway from the one indicated by the wind sock at a non-towered airport?
- A direct crosswind component exceeding 10 knots
- A tailwind component that does not exceed the aircraft's published tailwind limit (Correct answer)
- Never; always land into the wind
- When traffic pattern noise abatement requires it regardless of wind
Correct answer: A tailwind component that does not exceed the aircraft's published tailwind limit
If the tailwind component is within the aircraft manufacturer's published tailwind limit, and operational or noise abatement factors favor it, use of the downwind runway may be acceptable.
CTO Non-Towered Airport Operations 5
A non-towered airport has an instrument approach procedure.
Who provides separation services to IFR aircraft operating in the vicinity?