Radio lab
Hear what airport frequencies sound like.
A listen-only Part 107 radio simulator for the three channels students confuse most: runway traffic, weather, and UNICOM advisory/service chatter.
Airport radio simulator
Tune the channel. Decode the call.
Frequency
122.80
Common Traffic Advisory Frequency
0:00 / 0:00
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Current channel
CTAF runway monitor
The self-announce traffic frequency at many non-towered airports. Pilots say where they are, what runway they are using, and what they are about to do.
What it is
CTAF is not a clearance channel. It is a shared situational-awareness frequency where traffic calls stack up quickly around the runway and traffic pattern.
Pilot takeaway
For a remote pilot, the value is listening for runway direction, pattern legs, and traffic density before working near an airport environment.
Exam signal
If the chart gives a CTAF, expect questions about runway use, traffic-pattern position, non-towered operations, or what a pilot is announcing.
Listen for
- Airport name repeated at the beginning and end
- Runway numbers such as runway one eight
- Pattern legs: downwind, base, final, departing
- No controller issuing a takeoff or landing clearance
Transcript and decode
Cedar Lake traffic, Skyhawk four five alpha, ten miles west, inbound for landing runway one eight, Cedar Lake.
A small airplane is west of the airport and coming in to land southbound on runway 18.
Cedar Lake traffic, Warrior two charlie, entering left downwind runway one eight, Cedar Lake.
The aircraft is in the traffic pattern and will turn base, then final for runway 18.
Cedar Lake traffic, Skyhawk four five alpha, entering the forty-five for left downwind runway one eight, Cedar Lake.
Another aircraft is joining the same runway pattern. More runway-area traffic is building.
Cedar Lake traffic, Cherokee seven six papa, departing runway one eight, remaining in the pattern, Cedar Lake.
A departing aircraft will climb out and stay near the airport for another circuit.
Cedar Lake traffic, Warrior two charlie, turning final runway one eight, full stop, Cedar Lake.
An aircraft is lined up with runway 18 and landing now. Stay well clear of the approach path.
CTAF
Runway and traffic-pattern awareness at many non-towered airports. The exam loves runway numbers, final, base, downwind, and who has not received a clearance.
Weather
ATIS, AWOS, and ASOS broadcasts are weather sources. Pull out wind, visibility, ceiling, altimeter, and runway in use.
UNICOM
Airport advisory plus local services: fuel, ramp, hangars, ground movement, and sometimes the same frequency used as CTAF.
Part 107 boundary
Treat this as radio comprehension, not permission.
A frequency printed on a sectional chart is not authorization to fly in controlled airspace, and it is not an invitation for a remote pilot to transmit. For most drone pilots, the practical skill is monitoring and understanding what manned aircraft, weather systems, or airport advisory stations are saying.
The exam angle is narrower: know which source gives traffic information, which source gives weather, and which source may cover airport advisory and local services. Then connect the words you hear to runway direction, traffic pattern position, weather minimums, and airport surface activity.
Demo channels included
- 122.80CTAF runway monitorCommon Traffic Advisory Frequency
- 119.925Weather broadcastATIS / AWOS / ASOS style
- 122.95UNICOM mixed servicesAdvisory, ramp, fuel, local services