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AIM 

4/20/23

 

4

1

6

Services Available to Pilots

g. Self-Announce Position and/or Intentions

1. General.

Self-announce is a procedure whereby pilots broadcast their position or intended flight activity

or ground operation on the designated CTAF. This procedure is used primarily at airports which do not have an
FSS on the airport. The 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

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. Straight

in Landings.

 The FAA discourages VFR straight

in approaches to landings due to the

increased risk of a mid

air collision. However, if a pilot chooses to execute a straight

in approach for landing

without entering the airport traffic pattern, the pilot should self

announce their position on the designated CTAF

approximately 8 to 10 miles from the airport and coordinate their straight

in approach and landing with other

airport traffic. Pilots executing a straight

in approach (IFR or VFR) do not have priority over other aircraft in

the traffic pattern, and must comply with the provisions of 14 CFR 91.113 (g), Right

of

way rules.

5. Traffic Pattern Operations.

 All traffic within a 10

mile radius of a non

towered airport or a

part

time

towered airport when the control tower is not operating, should  monitor and communicate on the

designated CTAF when entering the traffic pattern. Pilots operating in the traffic pattern or on a straight

in

approach must be alert at all times to other aircraft in the pattern, or conducting straight

in approaches, and

communicate their position to avoid a possible traffic conflict. In the airport traffic pattern and while on
straight

in approaches to a runway, effective communication and a pilot’s responsibility to see

and

avoid are

essential mitigations to avoid a possible midair collision. In addition, following established traffic pattern
procedures eliminates excessive maneuvering at low altitudes, reducing the risk of loss of aircraft control.

REFERENCE

FAA Advisory Circular (AC) 90

66, Non

Towered Airport Flight Operations.

6. Practice Approaches.

Pilots conducting practice instrument approaches should be particularly 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 announcements 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.

7.

Departing aircraft should always be alert for arrival aircraft coming from the opposite direction.

8.

Recommended self

announce broadcasts: 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. When referring to a specific runway, pilots should use the runway number and not

use the phrase “Active Runway.”

(a)

Inbound

EXAMPLE

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

and

go, Strawn.

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

(b)

Outbound