Uncontrolled Fields & Aerodrome Services
Uncontrolled Fields: CTAF & UNICOM
CTAF & UNICOM Traffic
Stage Two does not have AI VFR traffic, this will come with Stage Three - as such CTAF and UNICOM frequencies will have no other traffic communicating on them
Unlike controlled airspace, at fields with no ATC, you will usually broadcast your intentions in the blind. Tune the CTAF/UNICOM and the interface switches to announce buttons covering the whole visit:
| Phase | Announcements |
|---|---|
| Ground | Taxi (departure / circuits / parking), backtrack, lining up |
| Departure | Departing north/east/south/west, or remaining in the pattern |
| Inbound | Inbound, overflying |
| Circuit | Crosswind (🇬🇧🇦🇺), downwind, base, final (downwind, base and final with your intention) |
| UK joins | Joining overhead, descending dead side |
| Going around | Going around (while airborne) |
| After landing | Clear of runway |
An example broadcast:
| Speaker | Response |
|---|---|
| N123AB | Half Moon Bay traffic, N123AB, entering left downwind runway 30, full stop, Half Moon Bay. |
Note
Regional wording is applied depending on where you fly.
Broadcast Frequencies
Most untowered fields carry their own CTAF or UNICOM frequency from the airport's data; tune it and the announce buttons appear. On top of that, BeyondATC recognizes some well-known broadcast frequencies:
| Frequency | Name | Mainly Used In |
|---|---|---|
| 122.700, 122.725, 122.800, 122.950, 122.975, 123.000, 123.050, 123.075 | UNICOM | United States |
| 122.900, 122.925 | MULTICOM | United States |
| 126.700 | MULTICOM | Australia |
| 135.480 (also 135.475) | SAFETYCOM | United Kingdom |
| 121.500 | GUARD (Monitor only) | Worldwide |
Note
These frequencies are broadcast only - meaning no one will reply to your broadcasts. We plan to have VFR Traffic make their own announcements on these frequencies when Stage Three is released.
Aerodrome Services: Information, Radio & FSS
Some fields have a different controller or service station rather than a fully functional control tower. Each is modelled with the limits on what the operator may say:
| Station | What it can do |
|---|---|
| AFIS / FISO (🇬🇧 "{Field} Information") | Taxi and traffic information and reports, but it has no legal right to issue clearances. Expect wording like "take off at your discretion." |
| Air/Ground radio (🇬🇧 AGCS) | Information only. Your taxi call becomes "request taxi information". |
| Flight Service Stations (🇺🇸) | Airfield information, weather, and PIREPs. |
Combined Requests
Certain requests support 'combined requests', for example "request airfield information and taxi for VFR departure."