AIM

8/15/19

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1

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5

Services Available to Pilots

self-announce procedure should also be used if a pilot
is unable to communicate with the FSS on the
designated CTAF. Pilots stating, 

“Traffic in the area,

please advise”

 is not a recognized Self

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Announce

Position and/or Intention phrase and should not be
used under any condition.

2.

If an airport has a tower and it is temporarily

closed, or operated on a part-time basis and there is no
FSS on the airport or the FSS is closed, use the CTAF
to self-announce your position or intentions.

3.

Where there is no tower, FSS, or UNICOM

station on the airport, use MULTICOM frequency
122.9 for self-announce procedures. Such airports
will be identified in appropriate aeronautical
information publications.

4. Practice Approaches.

Pilots conducting

practice instrument approaches should be particular-
ly alert for other aircraft that may be departing in the
opposite direction. When conducting any practice
approach, regardless of its direction relative to other
airport operations, pilots should make announce-
ments on the CTAF as follows:

(a)

Departing the final approach fix, inbound

(nonprecision approach) or departing the outer
marker or fix used in lieu of the outer marker, inbound
(precision approach);

(b)

Established on the final approach segment

or immediately upon being released by ATC;

(c)

Upon completion or termination of the

approach; and

(d)

Upon executing the missed approach

procedure.

5.

Departing aircraft should always be alert for

arrival aircraft coming from the opposite direction.

6.

Recommended self-announce phraseologies:

It should be noted that aircraft operating to or from
another nearby airport may be making self-announce
broadcasts on the same UNICOM or MULTICOM
frequency. To help identify one airport from another,
the airport name should be spoken at the beginning
and end of each self-announce transmission.

(a)

Inbound

EXAMPLE

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Strawn traffic, Apache Two Two Five Zulu, (position),
(altitude), (descending) or entering downwind/base/final
(as appropriate) runway one seven full stop, touch

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and

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go, Strawn.
Strawn traffic Apache Two Two Five Zulu clear of runway
one seven Strawn.

(b)

Outbound

EXAMPLE

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Strawn traffic, Queen Air Seven One Five Five Bravo
(location on airport) taxiing to runway two six Strawn.
Strawn traffic, Queen Air Seven One Five Five Bravo
departing runway two six. Departing the pattern to the
(direction), climbing to (altitude) Strawn.

(c)

Practice Instrument Approach

EXAMPLE

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Strawn traffic, Cessna Two One Four Three Quebec
(position from airport) inbound descending through
(altitude) practice (name of approach) approach runway
three five Strawn.
Strawn traffic, Cessna Two One Four Three Quebec
practice (type) approach completed or terminated runway
three five Strawn.

h. UNICOM Communications Procedures

1.

In communicating with a UNICOM station,

the following practices will help reduce frequency
congestion, facilitate a better understanding of pilot
intentions, help identify the location of aircraft in the
traffic pattern, and enhance safety of flight:

(a)

Select the correct UNICOM frequency.

(b)

State the identification of the UNICOM

station you are calling in each transmission.

(c)

Speak slowly and distinctly.

(d)

Report approximately 10 miles from the

airport, reporting altitude, and state your aircraft type,
aircraft identification, location relative to the airport,
state whether landing or overflight, and request wind
information and runway in use.

(e)

Report on downwind, base, and final

approach.

(f)

Report leaving the runway.

2.

Recommended UNICOM phraseologies:

(a)

Inbound

PHRASEOLOGY

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FREDERICK UNICOM CESSNA EIGHT ZERO ONE
TANGO FOXTROT 10 MILES SOUTHEAST
DESCENDING THROUGH (altitude) LANDING
FREDERICK, REQUEST WIND AND RUNWAY
INFORMATION FREDERICK.
FREDERICK TRAFFIC CESSNA EIGHT ZERO ONE
TANGO FOXTROT ENTERING DOWNWIND/BASE/