Operations at Nontowered Airports Can Be Tricky

A new FAA AC cautions against performing a straight-in approach to a nontowered airport when there are other aircraft in the pattern.

Meg Godlewski

Tuesday, June 13, 2023 at 01:20 PM ET

Verified

There are nearly 20,000 nontowered airports in the U.S. [Credit: Julie Boatman]

Key Takeaways:

The FAA has released a new Advisory Circular (AC 90-66C) providing crucial guidance and best practices for safe operations at the majority of U.S. nontowered airports.
A primary caution emphasized in the AC is to avoid straight-in approaches at nontowered airports when other aircraft are in the pattern, as this significantly increases the risk of midair collisions.
Pilots must prioritize consistent communication on the common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF), providing clear self-announcements of intentions and positions using landmarks, starting well in advance of arrival or departure.
The AC reinforces the importance of adhering to standard traffic patterns, understanding right-of-way rules, maintaining situational awareness, and making aircraft as visible as possible.

See a mistake? Contact us.

One of the first surprises for many people learning to fly is that not every airport has a control tower. In fact, the majority of them don’t.

The FAA recognizes this and has released a new advisory circular (AC) covering nontowered airport operations. While ACs are not regulatory in nature, they offer guidance for best practices. Much of the information should be a review for most pilots, as it is also covered in The Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge and Chapter 4 of the Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM).