Common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF)

Common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF) is the radio frequency used by pilots to communicate their position and intentions at an airport without an operating control tower. The CTAF may be a published airport frequency, a UNICOM frequency, or another frequency designated for traffic advisories.

What it governs

Pilots use the CTAF to build a shared awareness of arrivals, departures, pattern traffic, runway use, and aircraft positions. A typical advisory includes the airport name, aircraft type or identifier, position, altitude, and intended action. Pilots listen before transmitting, keep calls concise, and make position reports at useful points in the traffic pattern.

CTAF communication is not an air traffic control clearance. Another pilot's transmission does not reserve a runway or remove the need to see and avoid. The published airport information and current chart determine which frequency applies.

Example

A pilot approaching an uncontrolled airport might transmit: Pine Valley traffic, Cessna 123AB, five miles east at 2,500 feet, inbound for landing runway 18, Pine Valley. The pilot listens for other traffic, continues position reports, and checks the windsock or other available information before entering the pattern.

Why it matters

A clear CTAF call helps other pilots understand where an aircraft is going, but radio calls are only one part of collision avoidance. Pilots must maintain an effective visual scan and follow the published traffic pattern, wind information, and airport procedures.

Do not assume a frequency from memory. Review the current chart, Chart Supplement, airport directory, and any local procedures. The FAA Aeronautical Information Manual explains recommended radio phraseology and airport operations.

Related terms and tools

• ATIS
• AWOS
• FAA Pilot and Controller Glossary