VFR at untowered airports

Calls at airports with no tower (or a closed one), from engine start to shutdown: CTAF self-announce, a call for every pattern leg, flight following after takeoff, VFR flight plans with Flight Service, flying into a towered field and part-time towers. The route is Lincoln (KLHM) to Auburn (KAUN), 13 NM apart near Sacramento. Word meanings are in radio fundamentals; towered fields are in VFR towered.

The example airports

CTAF, UNICOM and MULTICOM

A CTAF (common traffic advisory frequency) is the one frequency everyone near an untowered airport uses to announce where they are. Nobody gives clearances: you coordinate with other pilots and see and avoid.

Self-announce format (AIM 4-1-9, AC 90-66C):

"<Airport> traffic, <type and callsign>, <position>, <altitude if airborne>, <intentions>, <Airport>."
"Lincoln traffic, Skyhawk one two three alpha bravo, one zero miles south, two thousand five hundred,
 inbound landing, Lincoln."

Pilot-controlled lighting: key the mic on the CTAF 7 times within 5 s for the highest intensity, 5 for medium, 3 for lowest (AIM 2-1-9). At Lincoln and Auburn the CTAF turns on the runway lights.

Departure

If ATC (or traffic) says…

• "Skyhawk on the ramp, say position": answer with your exact spot and runway.
• Traffic reports final for the opposite runway (15): don't take the runway; talk: "Cherokee on final one five, Skyhawk holding short three three will wait for you, Lincoln."
• Someone is back-taxiing on the runway: wait until they report clear; the FAA discourages back-taxi at untowered fields.
• "Jumpers away over Lincoln": parachutists are coming down; hold on the ground or remain well clear of the drop zone until they're down.
• Nothing at all: silence doesn't mean the pattern is empty (no-radio aircraft are legal); look.

Pattern calls

AIM 4-1-9 recommends calls on downwind, base, final and when clear of the runway; crosswind and departure calls help when you stay in the pattern (AC 90-66C). Calls below are for staying in the pattern at Lincoln, runway 33.

If ATC (or traffic) says…

• "Skyhawk on downwind, say position": give leg and distance: "left downwind abeam midfield runway three three."
• "Cessna on base, I'm on a three-mile straight-in": look for them; if you can't see them, extend and say so: "Skyhawk will extend downwind, looking for the straight-in traffic."
• Two aircraft call the same leg: the lower one has the right-of-way on final but mustn't cut in (14 CFR 91.113); talk it out on the CTAF.
• A pilot uses the other runway (15 vs 33): announce your intentions early and agree on one runway.

Arriving: the 10 NM call and pattern entry

Listen to the AWOS, then call about 10 NM out with position, altitude and intentions. Enter at pattern altitude: 45° to midfield downwind is standard; crossing midfield to downwind is the alternate when the pattern isn't busy (AC 90-66C). Straight-in landings are discouraged and have no priority.

If ATC (or traffic) says…

• NorCal on flight following: "Skyhawk three alpha bravo, radar service terminated, squawk VFR, change to advisory frequency approved": squawk 1200, go to the CTAF (7110.65 7-6-11).
• "Traffic, a Bonanza, on a ten-mile straight-in runway two five": sequence yourself; call when you have it in sight.
• The wind favors 07 but traffic is using 25: follow the flow or announce and coordinate before landing opposite direction.

Flight following after takeoff

Untowered fields have no ground or tower to set it up, so call Approach once you're clear of the pattern (AIM 4-1-18). Stay on the CTAF until clear of the pattern first.

If ATC says…

• "Say altitude": read your altimeter exactly; ATC is checking your Mode C.
• "Unable flight following, radar contact lost": you're low under coverage; climb or try later.
• "Traffic eleven o'clock, two miles, a Cirrus on a Lincoln departure": answer "looking" or "traffic in sight".

VFR flight plans with Flight Service

A VFR flight plan is optional in the US and only starts search and rescue if you activate it; towers don't open or close it (AIM 5-1-5, 5-1-14). Flight Service (FSS) is run by Leidos: 1-800-WX-BRIEF, 1800wxbrief.com, or on the radio as "(FSS name) Radio", often on 122.2 or a charted RCO (remote communications outlet) frequency.

If ATC says…

• "Say again your frequency and location": FSS transmits on many outlets; repeat the frequency you're on and the nearest town or VOR (AIM 4-2-3).
• "Unable, no flight plan on file": give your departure airport and destination; they can file one on the spot.
• No answer on 122.2: try the RCO frequency on the chart, or activate by phone before takeoff next time.

Into a towered airport from an untowered one

Lincoln to Mather (KMHR, Class D while the tower is open): listen to the ATIS early, then call the tower before the Class D boundary. Two-way contact means the tower used your callsign (AIM 3-2-5).

If ATC says…

• "Aircraft calling Mather Tower, standby": no callsign, no contact: stay outside the Class D.
• "Say position": distance and direction from the airport, plus altitude.
• The rest of the tower calls (sequence, go-around, landing) are in VFR towered.

Part-time towers

When the tower closes, the airport works like an untowered one. The Chart Supplement "AIRSPACE" line says what the Class D becomes ("other times CLASS G" or "CLASS E"), which changes the VFR weather minimums (AIM 3-2-5).

Check the hours in local time and daylight saving: ‡ in the Chart Supplement means one hour earlier in Zulu during daylight time.

If ATC says…

• On the tower frequency after hours: silence is normal; self-announce with "traffic" instead of "tower".
• A tower about to close may say so on the frequency: after that time, keep the same frequency and self-announce.

Recipes

Full script: Lincoln to Auburn, engine start to shutdown

All self-announce, no ATC. Weather times and winds are made up.

     (KLHM AWOS 124.25: "wind three two zero at eight … altimeter three zero zero one")
     (CTAF 123.0)
YOU  Lincoln traffic, Skyhawk one two three alpha bravo, taxiing from the ramp to runway three three, Lincoln.
     (run-up; listen)
OTH  Lincoln traffic, Cherokee four four golf, left base runway three three, full stop, Lincoln.
     (wait for the Cherokee to land and clear)
OTH  Lincoln traffic, Cherokee four four golf, clear of runway three three, Lincoln.
YOU  Lincoln traffic, Skyhawk one two three alpha bravo, departing runway three three, departing the pattern
     straight out, climbing to three thousand five hundred, Lincoln.
     (clear of the pattern, turn right eastbound)
YOU  Lincoln traffic, Skyhawk one two three alpha bravo, two miles east, departing the area eastbound,
     two thousand, Lincoln.
     (KAUN AWOS 119.375: "wind two five zero at seven … altimeter three zero zero zero")
     (CTAF 122.7)
YOU  Auburn traffic, Skyhawk one two three alpha bravo, one zero miles west, three thousand five hundred,
     inbound landing, Auburn.
OTH  Auburn traffic, Bonanza six two tango, left downwind runway two five, full stop, Auburn.
YOU  Auburn traffic, Skyhawk one two three alpha bravo, crossing midfield at pattern altitude,
     joining left downwind runway two five, Auburn.
YOU  Auburn traffic, Skyhawk one two three alpha bravo, left downwind runway two five, full stop,
     Bonanza in sight, Auburn.
YOU  Auburn traffic, Skyhawk one two three alpha bravo, left base runway two five, Auburn.
YOU  Auburn traffic, Skyhawk one two three alpha bravo, final runway two five, full stop, Auburn.
YOU  Auburn traffic, Skyhawk one two three alpha bravo, clear of runway two five, taxiing to parking, Auburn.
     (monitor 122.7 until shutdown)

Touch-and-go loop

One lap at Lincoln, runway 33. Repeat downwind to final each lap; change "touch-and-go" to "full stop" on the last.

YOU  Lincoln traffic, Skyhawk one two three alpha bravo, departing runway three three,
     remaining in the pattern, Lincoln.
YOU  Lincoln traffic, Skyhawk one two three alpha bravo, left crosswind runway three three, Lincoln.
YOU  Lincoln traffic, Skyhawk one two three alpha bravo, left downwind runway three three,
     touch-and-go, Lincoln.
YOU  Lincoln traffic, Skyhawk one two three alpha bravo, left base runway three three, Lincoln.
YOU  Lincoln traffic, Skyhawk one two three alpha bravo, final runway three three, touch-and-go, Lincoln.

Flight following from an untowered field

Leave the CTAF once clear of the pattern, then call Approach in two steps.

YOU  NorCal Approach, Skyhawk one two three alpha bravo, VFR request.
APP  Skyhawk one two three alpha bravo, NorCal Approach, go ahead.
YOU  Skyhawk one two three alpha bravo, a Cessna one seventy-two, four miles east of Lincoln,
     two thousand five hundred climbing to three thousand five hundred, request flight following to Mather.
APP  Skyhawk one two three alpha bravo, squawk four five three one.
YOU  Four five three one, Skyhawk one two three alpha bravo.
APP  Skyhawk one two three alpha bravo, radar contact five miles east of Lincoln, altimeter three zero zero one.
YOU  Three zero zero one, Skyhawk three alpha bravo.

Opening a VFR flight plan by radio

Call up first, then the request. Use the FSS name and frequency from the chart's communication box.

YOU  Rancho Radio, Skyhawk one two three alpha bravo, on one two two point two, over Lincoln.
FSS  Skyhawk one two three alpha bravo, Rancho Radio, go ahead.
YOU  Skyhawk one two three alpha bravo, request to open my VFR flight plan, Lincoln to Auburn,
     off at one eight three five Zulu.
FSS  Skyhawk one two three alpha bravo, your flight plan is open.
YOU  Skyhawk one two three alpha bravo, thank you.

Lincoln to Mather: untowered to towered

Self-announce out of Lincoln, ATIS, then the tower call before the Class D.

     (calm wind: runway one five, the calm-wind runway, points at Mather)
YOU  Lincoln traffic, Skyhawk one two three alpha bravo, departing runway one five, departing the pattern
     straight out to the south, Lincoln.
     (KMHR ATIS 118.325: "information Kilo, runways two two left and two two right in use")
     (Mather Tower 120.65, about 12 NM north)
YOU  Mather Tower, Skyhawk one two three alpha bravo, one two miles north, two thousand five hundred,
     with information Kilo, landing.
TWR  Skyhawk one two three alpha bravo, Mather Tower, enter right downwind runway two two right,
     report midfield.
YOU  Right downwind two two right, report midfield, Skyhawk one two three alpha bravo.

Arriving when the tower has just closed

Same frequency, different rules: self-announce and use the airport name.

YOU  Mather traffic, Skyhawk one two three alpha bravo, one zero miles north, two thousand five hundred,
     inbound landing runway two two left, Mather.

References

• FAA Aeronautical Information Manual, Basic with Change 3 (July 9, 2026) (opens in a new tab): 4-1-9 traffic advisory practices at airports without operating towers, 4-1-11 UNICOM/MULTICOM frequencies, 4-3-3 traffic patterns, 4-3-27 ASOS/AWOS, 3-2-5 Class D, 2-1-9 pilot-controlled lighting, 5-1 VFR flight plans
• FAA AC 90-66C, Non-Towered Airport Flight Operations (opens in a new tab): self-announce wording, pattern entries, straight-in rules, departure coordination
• FAA Order JO 7110.65BB, Air Traffic Control (opens in a new tab): 7-6-11 radar service termination and "change to advisory frequency approved"; 3-1-13 two-way communications for Class D
• FAA Chart Supplement, Southwest, September 3 to October 29, 2026 (opens in a new tab): KLHM, KAUN, KMHR, KSAC and KPAO frequencies, hours and remarks
• Leidos Flight Service, 1800wxbrief.com (opens in a new tab): filing, EasyActivate, EasyClose and close reminders
• AirNav: KLHM (opens in a new tab), KAUN (opens in a new tab), KMHR (opens in a new tab): quick cross-check of frequencies and patterns