BY ORDER OF THE SECRETARY OF THE AIR FORCE AIR FORCE ...

AFMAN 11-217V1 3 JANUARY 2005 189
8.8. Instrument Approaches to Uncontrolled Airports.
8.8.1. Instrument approaches to uncontrolled airports are authorized for USAF
aircrews unless otherwise restricted by MAJCOM. For VFR procedures at uncontrolled
airports, see AFMAN 11-217 Volume 2 Visual Flight Procedures.
8.8.2. All operations at uncontrolled airports require additional vigilance on the part of
the aircrew. Conducting instrument approaches at uncontrolled airports are especially
challenging as the ground track of the instrument approach may not coincide with the
ground tracks of the VFR traffic pattern, the instrument approach may not terminate at
the active runway, altitudes may not coincide with the prevailing traffic patterns, and not
all VFR pilots are familiar with the instrument approach procedures at the airport.
Aircrews must thoroughly brief reporting procedures and crew coordination procedures
prior to accomplishing an instrument approach at an uncontrolled airport.
8.8.2.1. A critical point to remember is that any person on the ground providing
traffic advisories at a non-towered airport is only providing advisories. Personnel on
the ground are not air traffic controllers. Pilots operating at uncontrolled airports are
responsible for their own traffic avoidance, sequencing, and separation.
8.8.2.2. Pilots conducting actual or practice instrument approaches at uncontrolled
airports must be especially vigilant for traffic departing in the opposite direction.
8.8.3. Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF). The CTAF is a frequency
designed for the purpose of carrying out airport advisory practices while operating to or
from an airport without an operating control tower. The CTAF may be a UNICOM,
MULTICOM, FSS, or tower frequency and is identified on the approach plate.
8.8.3.1. A UNICOM is a non-governmental communication facility, which may
provide airport information. The frequency will be published on the approach plate
as “UNICOM”. Many times these radios are located in the airport office or at a fixed
base operator (FBO).
8.8.3.2. A MULTICOM is a mobile service not open to public correspondence used
to provide communications essential to conduct the activities being performed by or
directed from private aircraft. Where there is no tower, FSS, or UNICOM station on
the airport, use MULTICOM frequency 122.9.
8.8.3.3. A FSS physically located on an airport may provide airport advisory service
(AAS) at an airport that does not have a control tower or where a tower is operated on
a part-time basis and the tower is not in operation.
8.8.3.4. When a control tower is not operational 24 hours a day, the CTAF frequency
will normally be the same as the tower frequency listed on the approach plate and will
be annotated, “TOWER (CTAF).”
8.8.4. There are two ways for pilots to communicate their intentions and obtain
airport/traffic information when operating at an airport that does not have an operating
tower: by communicating with an FSS that is providing airport advisories on a CTAF or
by making a self-announced broadcast on the CTAF.
8.8.4.1. A FSS provides pilots with wind direction and velocity, favored or
designated runway, altimeter setting, known traffic, NOTAMs, airport taxi routes,