UNICOM

PhraseologyProcedures

Universal communications

A radio frequency at an aerodrome without an active control tower, run by a non-government ground station such as the airport office, or used only between pilots. It gives advisory information like the runway in use and known traffic, but no clearances.

Pilots announce their own position and intentions on it, e.g. “Echo Alfa Bravo, downwind runway 27, full stop”. In the USA the shared frequency is called the CTAF.

Also known as

CTAFCommon Traffic Advisory FrequencyMULTICOM

See also

Learn ATC the practical way

Practise real radio calls, decode weather and fly ATC scenarios — with an instructor that talks back.