Maybe I’m not the most knowledgable on this topic but, how do you guys handle ATC when you’re performing pattern work at a Unicom airfield and an active tower keeps telling you to stay on their frequency?
Is it beneficial to file a flight plan even for pattern work?
Not sure I understand the question are you at an airfield that is Unicom or that is controlled?
Hey DJ,
If you are doing pattern work at a Unicom airport (echo) or an airport that is does have an active ATC a tower should not be sending you an on gaurd message. If you are on a tower frequency you can request a departure to whatever direction you plan on going to and then request a frequency change. If an approach is sending you an on gaurd you should switch to their frequency and tell them you are flying VFR. There is no reason to file a flight plan for pattern work. Hope I helped. If you have any questions feel free to ask :)
Carson…that’s what I thought… I was doing pattern work on the advanced server earlier at an Unicom field… A controller at a different field kept telling me to stay on their frequency. It wasn’t approach, strictly tower at a completely different airport.
@jreilly2311 👆
Tower should exercise judgement and watch traffic for what they’re doing. Since they can see your tuned frequency, I’m not 100% sure why they contacted you - unless you were straying into their traffic, and/or airspace in general.
When doing patterns, don’t go too high; 1000AGL for props, 1500AGL for jets, as a rule of thumb (not always the case, but the general standard). If you’ve gone higher, they may have thought you’re intending to go to them.