CA.III.B.K1FAA-S-ACS-7B · Nov 2023Knowledge
Towered and nontowered airport operations.
Towered and nontowered airport operations.
Bottom line
Pilots operating from a towered airport are required to maintain two-way radio communication with ATC and to acknowledge and comply with their instructions.
Key numbers
| Number | What it means |
|---|---|
| Pattern altitude, always, at nontowered airports | Pattern entry |
| At least 500 feet above pattern altitude | Midfield crossing |
| 600 to 1,500 feet AGL, generally, at most airports and military air bases | Prop pattern alt |
| Up to 2,500 feet AGL, military turbojet, sometimes | Turbojet pattern |
| At least 1,500 feet above airport elevation, large or turbine-powered airplanes, unless distance-from-cloud criteria require otherwise | Large/turbine entry |
FAA references
- PHAK ch. 14 (p. 14-2) — FAA-H-8083-25C (2023)
- PHAK ch. 14 (p. 14-20) — FAA-H-8083-25C (2023)
- 14 CFR 91.129 (Operations in Class D airspace.) — eCFR current as of 2026-03-05
- 14 CFR 91.130 (Operations in Class C airspace.) — eCFR current as of 2026-03-05
- 14 CFR 91.127 (Operating on or in the vicinity of an airport in Class E airspace.) — eCFR current as of 2026-03-05
- AFH ch. 6 (p. 6-1) — FAA-H-8083-3C
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