Non-Towered Airport Operations

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OK; first off... this 5-minute video is 8:30, not 5-minutes. If you truly don't have 8-minutes (and 30-seconds) to learn about flying at Non-Towered (don't-call-them-Uncontrolled) Airports, perhaps you shouldn't be flying at Non-Towered Airports:)
Not only does this video "run long", but even more stuff ended up on the cutting room floor: Review of Right-of-Way procedures, don't do "Line-up-and-wait" at Non-Towered Airports; no "straight-ins" or base entries (!), don't say that silly "Any traffic in the area, please advise" (re-visit AIM 4-1-9(g)), don't fixate on the runway you're landing on (LOOK for traffic!), know and observe Noise Abatement and Terrain Avoidance procedures, and how to enter a traffic pattern that's on the other side of the airport from you. If I'd left all those things in, this video would have been 12+ minutes, so you may have to actually get some real flight training with an actual Flight Instructor to learn all those things... Plus, you wasted at least 3:30 reading this silly caption, when you could have watched this video!
Enjoy more videos on the garrywing KZbin channel, and visit the Fly The Wing website for blog articles, links and flight training specials --- FlyTheWing.comght training specials --- FlyTheWing.com

[@effyiew7318]

I'm not a pilot and I'm not planning on learning how to fly yet I've been watching your videos over the past few months because I find your demeanor and manner of teaching relaxing and enjoyable to watch. Thanks for posting and keep it up!

[@GalenCop9]

Thanks for another great video, Gary. Some great pointers here! I'm getting ready for my long cross country and will be flying into Burlington, IA as one of my airports which has 2 runways with right traffic on 12 and 18 with 36 as the calm wind runway.

[@michaelchoi8744]

Garry. Loving how practical and useful your videos still are compared to those putting out these graphically enhanced, major media production videos. Your videos are making me a better pilot!

[@AlexsFlyingClub]

excellent resource and very well made! I'm a sim pilot that strives for realism and these kinds of videos are very informative and inspiring. thanks! :)

[@FranksFlights]

Hi Gary. Another great video. I learned to look behind me and do some clearing turns from your video. Thank you for the videos and keep'em coming!

[@Havanafly]

This is helping me so much.. I see it a few times Every time

[@seetheworldwithben747]

Great video before my XC SOLO. Thank you

[@johnpro2847]

At 10nm in Australia,(uncontrolled, no ATIS) we do not state circuit intentions other than inbound direction and alt....often because wind direction is not known.

[@ItsKibet]

love your videos Garry!

[@EvanLuft]

Great video! Keep em coming man!

[@davem.5147]

Great video Gary. After this video, I will pay attention to looking behind as well. Great tip

[@jacyborreaux919]

Great Gary! I like the way you teach!

[@YamahaC7SRG]

Too bad this video is old. This info is excellent! The pilot is doing everything well. 1) He turns on lighting to increase his visibility. 2) He makes clearing turns to look for traffic and is constantly thinking about other traffic. 3) He uses the color/type 'green cub' rather than 'Piper November 1234 Golf.' That is something I almost never hear at non-towered airports any more but it's so helpful. It's quicker to say 'green cub' and it's pointless to use your tail number for ID since NO ONE CAN SEE YOUR TAIL NUMBER. 4) He correctly announces his landing intention once he's in the pattern: 'full stop,' 'touch and go,' 'stop and go,' etc. That's something that most people have lost, as well. 5) He keeps radio transmissions short and thinks BEFORE he pushes the button. 6) He 'keeps it tight' and doesn't 'drag it in' with power, which makes for a huge, slow pattern that is hard to spot. Nice job!!! I wish everyone flew as professionally and safely as this dude!

[@peterv1806]

Nice - thanks Garry.

[@avia3089]

I fail my progress check for coming straight-in in an uncontrolled airport.. but I learned a lesson

[@FLYNRYAN1978]

great video

[@jivadaya6439]

Hello Gary, have you ever flown to KCLR? If so, can you tell me what pilots call it in their CTAF calls? I called the airport but didn't get a very direct answer, Calipatria, Hatfield, Hatfield Memorial... Haven't see videos demonstrating this so I thought I would ask. What would you say? Thanks for your time.

[@SSpeer-oz9zk]

Garry. Have enjoyed your videos for many years and noticed you haven’t produced any new videos in quite awhile. Have you stopped instructing? Your videos were always (and still) spot on. Thanks.

[@GarryWing]

Still instructing; primarily in owner-provided aircraft. I think I covered all the Private & Commercial maneuvers, and didn't want to become one of those channels that just keeps churning out videos with no relevance or purpose.

[@Hedgeflexlfz]

How do you maintain airplane separation? How do you know how to maneuver with other airplanes In the pattern?

[@willfay1095]

nice

[@wateearthakamol1251]

Service to be provided at non-towered airport is the same as AFIS (aerodrome flight information service) ?

[@TheEarthandyou]

Local traffic, Green Cub is about 10 to the South, 1,500, we are gonna enter a 45, for a left downwind, runway 30, thermal. I think this means... Hi everyone flying at or near the air port terminal, this is a Green colored Cub aircraft, currently about ten miles to the south of the airport at an altitude of 1,500 feet above the ground. We are going to fly into the airport airplane flying pattern (enter a 45... I do not know what that means) for a left turn to into the downwind leg, to begin landing on runway 30, (which is runway marked 30 which is 300 degrees from magnetic North). I do not know what thermal means. (((((What did I get right? What did I get wrong?))))) I also appreciate that you mentioned, "but at some point you'll have to use your own judgment and decision-making on a lot of this stuff." There is a lot to learn and to get to that point or be at that point, to some degree and keep learning the rules, regulations, and mountains of stuff, it is a nice reminder. Pilot language... is another language... or code or secret code that ya need to break, like a spy. ha ha

[@jivadaya6439]

another question, if you fly over the field then do a 270 onto the downwind, would you announce that you are going to do the 270 turn or just say something like "overhead at ---ft. going to enter downwind for ry ---" ?

[@GarryWing]

Either way. I try to use as few words as possible, but be as descriptive as I can. Remember, other pilots are only paying half-attention to what you're saying, and not everyone may be familiar with the airport or the procedures, so be *clear and simple*.

[@VroodenTheGreat]

Heh, I love your videos... A calm flight instructor is a good flight instructor.... Where were you when I needed ya? The Piper Cub... I was told that its the safest plane in the world... it can just BARELY kill you. Fly safe, Vroo

[@commentatron]

Some men can get you slightly pregnant.

[@simcaesar5617]

The video says "consider using make/model & color instead of N-number" but in advisory circular 90-66B the FAA specifically says you should not do that. I personally would rather hear make/model/color, I think it's way more useful than N number. I'm not sure why the FAA advises against it (legal reasons?).

[@GarryWing]

Advisory Circulars are not regulatory. It also says you're not supposed to say "ANY TRAFFIC IN THE AREA, PLEASE ADVISE", but you hear that on the radio 1,000 times a day. I maintain that giving my call sign "Cub 1823" is not nearly as effective as saying "Green Cub"; as most people think "yellow" when they hear "Cub". If there were multiple "white Cessna 172" in the pattern, then yes, I would probably use a (truncated) call sign to differentiate myself. It's great that you're reading regs & AC's, etc., but at some point you'll have to use your own judgment and decision-making on a lot of this stuff.

[@bkrichmd]

Great videos, love them but quick question, do you ever get on the radio and tell those chatty cathy's to keep it a min?

[@GarryWing]

+Brian K Rich MD Ha; it sure is tempting. I've found however that the people carrying on conversations and blocking everyone else from making position reports don't realize what chuckleheads they really are, and generally don't respond well to criticism, so I generally let it go...

[@bkrichmd]

+Garry Wing good point

[@markbrugger2349]

what does a deaf pilot do i know they are required to land at non tower airport ..I am not a Pilot .. I would like to get into fa 103 where no licence requried I am learning form differnt video.. cant afford class or anything just enjoying learning

[@rogerswanson6209]

I like your use of the call sign "Green Cub" I fly an AirCam (twin pusher, taildragger, slow) It is vivid green. I think I would be better off at non-towered airports use the call sign "GREEN AIRCAM" rather than my N number. Anyone looking at the patter will immediately spot my "GREEN AIRCAM" but most don't know what an AirCam is and how slow it flies.

[@simcaesar5617]

I personally think it's a good idea, but the FAA states you're not supposed to do this. Search for AC No: 90-66B.

[@DougChristensen]

Flyboy wanna be here. So your radio communications are for other pilots not a tower right? So hopefully everyone has a radio and is on the right frequency.

[@MethosFilms]

What kind of plane is that please?

[@jimmyoverly3512]

Piper Cub, Green

[@jivadaya6439]

Hello, I am learning a lot from your videos but haven't quite gotten started with lessons yet. This video is especially helpful since there are many non-towered airports in my area that I will use during my training. Question: When making calls, how do I know what to call the traffic? Sometimes it is obvious but here, I heard "Thermal traffic..." but my first inclination was to say "Cochran traffic..." since that is the name of the airport, right? Then I thought, maybe we go by the ICAO? But, over at a towered like John Wayne, we call atc with "John Wayne" and not "Santa Ana" (as the ICAO indicates with KSNA) is that traffic considered "Santa Ana traffic" ? (I do understand we don't make calls like that there since it is towered) So, when looking at the sectional and identifying an airport, how do I know what to call it, especially when it is non-towered? Is this info easier to identify for sure in the airport directory or somewhere? Sorry if this is super dumb of me, I just really want to know for sure. Thank you.

[@GarryWing]

Don't overthink it; just use city or airport, whatever the locals tend to use. I generally use whatever is easiest, shortest & clearest. An important aspect is to use the airport/city name at beginning _and_ end of each transmission as there are *many* airports on the same freq, such as 122.8 & 123.0.

[@jivadaya6439]

Thank you sir. I will listen to local traffic and see what others on the frequency are using and follow suit. Once again, these videos and your concise presentations are pure GOLD :)

[@VroodenTheGreat]

LONG before you get to any given untowered airport, tune in the weather. that's important. at an untowered field, you dont know what runway they're using... (which end). check the weather, if it says calm, be sure to ask about traffic, and what THEY intend to do. dont be afraid to ask. tell them alot where you are and what are your intentions, with the name of the airport (not the city, not the county) at the beginning AND end of your transmission. I had a guy cut inside of me on the downwind, was the first time I knew he was there. He said "OH, sorry" and I just slowed down and let him land... You dont wanna be THAT guy.

[@VroodenTheGreat]

If you talk, they'll talk back. Not running into another plane is YOUR responsibility at the end of the day.

[@tsangarisjohn]

I prefer the term ‘Pilot Controlled Airport’ better. FAA should look into it. 😂

[@gustafpeyron]

Never enter straight in or on base? What? We do both at my school all the time... If there is hardly any traffic, or it's an extended base, it's fine, sure.

[@GarryWing]

+SuperCellProductions The FAA wants you to fly a *Standard Traffic Pattern* at Non-Towered Airports. They define that as a 45° downwind entry mid-field (please see AC 90-66A to learn about procedures at Non-Towered Airports). I decided to make this video after I was turning base at F70 in the Cub a few weeks ago and some chucklehead who didn't have an extra 4-minutes to fly a normal pattern made his _first_ radio call on a 4-mile straight-in final. He never saw me (even after I had landed and was on the runway; he did a go around). Mid-air collisions are the #1 hazard at Non-Towered aerodromes; most occur on final. Fly safely.

[@LukeNole]

Garry Wing I’m a pilot too, and I’m not gunna maneuver the airplane into a left or right pattern if my route has me entering directly into a final.

[@scarybaldguy]

@@LukeNole Please tell me where you normally fly so I know not to go there.

[@jimmyoverly3512]

Hi Garry! We'll see you at MYF! I'll buy you a cocaine! These videos are very helpful. Do you fly the Lake Amphibian?

[@bayhi1fatz]

What the heck is thermal. I have no idea.

[@GarryWing]

It's an airport. The airport I'm landing the airplane at. (KTRM) Not sure why that's confusing....?

[@moon-coder]

It is confusing because "thermal" is also a word related to aviation and gliders, so for somebody who us unaware that this is the name...

[@apburner1]

"You are more likely to have a midair collision from behind or the side." This is logically and demonstrably false. Unless the aircraft that hits you from behind or the side is flying one of those fancy new planes that flies in reverse, then at least 50% of the aircraft involved in the collision did so to an aircraft in front of them. Considering that no fixed wing aircraft accident has ever occurred between two aircraft flying backwards...

[@GarryWing]

You're just being silly. From the Air Safety Foundation's _Operations at Non-Towered Airports_ Safety Advisor (SA-8): * Most collisions occur on final approach, generally when a faster aircraft overtakes a slower one. For more ASF resources on collision avoidance, visit www.asf.org/ca.* A faster airplane climbs into or descends onto a slower airplane. It happens every week. Try to learn something, rather than just reach for the keyboard and make asinine comments on KZbin.

[@mshell1959]

Dude...seriously?! (apburner)