A UNICOM (universal communications) station is an air-ground communication facility operated by a non-air traffic control private agency to provide advisory service at uncontrolled aerodromes and airports and to provide various non-flight services, such as requesting a taxi, even at towered airports.[1] It is also known as an aeronautical advisory station.[2] The equivalent European/ICAO service is known as (aerodrome) flight information service, abbreviated as AFIS or FIS.[citation needed]
UNICOM is employed at airports with a low volume of general aviation traffic and where no control tower is active.[3] UNICOM stations typically use a single communications frequency. Some airfields always offer UNICOM service while others revert to UNICOM procedures only during hours when the control tower is closed. Under this protocol, aircraft may call a non-government ground station to make announcements of their intentions. Pilots who join the frequency later can request field advisories, which may include "weather information, wind direction, the recommended runway" and any previously reported traffic.[4]
In some cases, the ground station is not staffed, and attempts to communicate will, of course, receive no acknowledgement. During these times, pilots self-announce their position and/or intentions over the CTAF frequency, which is often the same as the UNICOM frequency.[5] When a part-time UNICOM station is located on the same airport as a part-time control tower, the same frequency will be used by both ground stations to avoid confusion. Many UNICOM stations are operated by a fixed-base operator (FBO), and it may be possible to request services such as fuel trucks, taxi service from the airport, outgoing phone calls, and others.[6]
^ abcTransport Canada (April 2010). . Archived from the original on 2010-07-09. Retrieved 2010-08-19.
^Air Traffic Organization Policy ORDER #JO 7210.3X; Subject: Facility Operation and Administration, Section 2 - Use of Communications. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION. 9 February 2012. Retrieved 26 February 2013.
^Fuera de peligro aeropuerto Mercedita. Omar Alfonso. La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 23 February 2013. Retrieved 26 February 2013 (Printed edition publication data: Recortes en la FAA: Fuera de peligro el Aeropuerto Mercedita. Year 31. Issue 1526. Page 14. 27 February 2013.).
^"FAA Aeronautical Information Manual (FAA AIM) - 4-1-9.e. Information Provided by aueronautical Advisory Stations (UNICOM)". Retrieved 2012-07-21.
^FBO at small airport using unassigned unicom frequency for airport information. NASA ASRS Report 106369, March 1989. 37000 Feet. August 2007. Retrieved 26 February 2013.
unicom, other, uses, unicom, corp, global, china, unicom, universal, communications, station, ground, communication, facility, operated, traffic, control, private, agency, provide, advisory, service, uncontrolled, aerodromes, airports, provide, various, flight. For other uses see Unicom Corp UNICOM Global and China Unicom A UNICOM universal communications station is an air ground communication facility operated by a non air traffic control private agency to provide advisory service at uncontrolled aerodromes and airports and to provide various non flight services such as requesting a taxi even at towered airports 1 It is also known as an aeronautical advisory station 2 The equivalent European ICAO service is known as aerodrome flight information service abbreviated as AFIS or FIS citation needed Contents 1 Description 2 Frequencies 2 1 United States 2 2 Canada 3 See also 4 ReferencesDescription EditUNICOM is employed at airports with a low volume of general aviation traffic and where no control tower is active 3 UNICOM stations typically use a single communications frequency Some airfields always offer UNICOM service while others revert to UNICOM procedures only during hours when the control tower is closed Under this protocol aircraft may call a non government ground station to make announcements of their intentions Pilots who join the frequency later can request field advisories which may include weather information wind direction the recommended runway and any previously reported traffic 4 In some cases the ground station is not staffed and attempts to communicate will of course receive no acknowledgement During these times pilots self announce their position and or intentions over the CTAF frequency which is often the same as the UNICOM frequency 5 When a part time UNICOM station is located on the same airport as a part time control tower the same frequency will be used by both ground stations to avoid confusion Many UNICOM stations are operated by a fixed base operator FBO and it may be possible to request services such as fuel trucks taxi service from the airport outgoing phone calls and others 6 Frequencies EditThe actual frequency used at any particular airport can be found on the relevant sectional terminal area chart or in airport directories such as the Canada Flight Supplement 1 United States Edit In the United States radio frequencies made available by the Federal Communications Commission for use as UNICOM are 7 Airports with an Air Traffic Control tower or FSS Alaska only on the airport 7 122 950 MHzAirports without an Air Traffic Control tower or FSS on the airport 7 122 700 MHz 122 725 MHz 122 800 MHz 122 975 MHz 123 000 MHz 123 050 MHz 123 075 MHzCanada Edit In Canada the radio frequencies assigned for UNICOM are 1 122 700 MHz 122 725 MHz 122 750 MHz 122 775 MHz 122 800 MHz 122 825 MHz 122 950 MHz 123 000 MHz 123 300 MHz 123 350 MHz 123 500 MHzSee also EditCTAF MULTICOMReferences Edit a b c Transport Canada April 2010 TP 14371 Transport Canada Aeronautical Information Manual TC AIM RAC 1 0 GENERAL 1 2 1 Universal Communications Archived from the original on 2010 07 09 Retrieved 2010 08 19 Air Traffic Organization Policy ORDER JO 7210 3X Subject Facility Operation and Administration Section 2 Use of Communications U S DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION 9 February 2012 Retrieved 26 February 2013 Fuera de peligro aeropuerto Mercedita Omar Alfonso La Perla del Sur Ponce Puerto Rico 23 February 2013 Retrieved 26 February 2013 Printed edition publication data Recortes en la FAA Fuera de peligro el Aeropuerto Mercedita Year 31 Issue 1526 Page 14 27 February 2013 FAA Aeronautical Information Manual FAA AIM 4 1 9 e Information Provided by aueronautical Advisory Stations UNICOM Retrieved 2012 07 21 Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association 15 October 2018 Changing Unicom Frequencies Archived from the original on 5 April 2013 Retrieved 26 February 2013 FBO at small airport using unassigned unicom frequency for airport information NASA ASRS Report 106369 March 1989 37000 Feet August 2007 Retrieved 26 February 2013 a b c 47 CFR 87 217 Chapter 4 Air Traffic Control Airman s Information Manual Washington DC Superintendent of Documents 1999 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title UNICOM amp oldid 1179421590, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
