Air traffic control (ATC) is synonymous with airports. Consisting of specialists known as “controllers” who operate out of towers, ATC communicates with incoming and outgoing aircraft to ensure safety. Their primary purpose is to maintain separation between all aircraft.
While some airports have an ATC tower, however, others do not. These non-towered airports are common in the United States and many other countries. Here are six facts about non-towered airports.
#1) Most Airports Are Non-Towered
Contrary to popular belief, most airports don’t have an ATC tower. For every towered airport in the United States, there are roughly 40 non-towered airports. They typically consist of smaller airports with fewer workers than their towered counterparts.
#2) Pilots Communicate Using CTAF
When flying in and out of non-towered airports, pilots communicate with each other using common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF). CTAF offers a universal channel for pilots to make announcements. Whether they are preparing to take off, entering a pattern or approaching the runway, pilots place calls over CTAF. These calls give other pilots a heads up about a heads up about what the aircraft is doing.
#3) Automated Weather Broadcasts
Automated weather broadcasts are a common feature of many non-towered airports. These airports often feature stations, such as AWOS and ASOS, that broadcast weather updates regularly. Pilots listen to these stations to receive information about the wind direction, temperature, visibility and other weather-related details.
#4) The FAA Recommends Visual Indicators
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recommends that pilots use visual indicators at non-towered airports. This includes wind direction indicators, landing direction indicators, traffic pattern indicators and segmented circles. Visual indicators such as these help pilots identify traffic at non-towered airports.
#5) Most Use Left-Hand Turns
Most non-towered airports use left-hand turns. This means all turns made when arriving at or departing a non-towered airport involve turning to the left. With that said, there’s no rule stating that airports must use left-hand turns. Some airports — both towered and non-towered — use right-hand turns. These airports typically have an “RP” marking on charts, indicating a right-hand turning pattern.
#6) Pilots Must Announce Their Intention
Without a dedicated tower, pilots at non-towered airports must remain vigilant. They must announce their location and intention while also listening to other pilots sharing this information. These announcements are typically made using CTAF. Using CTAF calls, pilots can announce intentions such as entering the downwind or taxiing.
