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14 Answers

KUNV – Class D Airport with no control tower? How do I do this?

Asked by: 20154 views Airspace, General Aviation, Private Pilot

I want to take a trip here but noticed that there is no control tower (only a CTAF frequency) but the airspace is class D. How does one approach and enter the airport environment flying VFR in this instance?

Do I have to contact NY ARTCC to get permission to enter and then self announce? What would my request be (can someone script this for me?)

For quick reference here is SOME (nonofficial) AF/D info:
http://www.airnav.com/airport/kunv

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14 Answers



  1. Bradc314 on Sep 28, 2010

    Looks to me like the info is right there for you:
     
    CLEARANCE DELIVERY PVDD BY NEW YORK ARTCC ON FREQ 118.55.
     

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  2. Bradc314 on Sep 28, 2010

    I would think that NY ARTCC would not only clear you into the Class D, but clear you to land as well.

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  3. Ryan on Sep 28, 2010

    I actually looked into this further.  The sectional has a note to check notams.  There was an FAA announcement stating the airspace change from E (as listed in the AF/D) to class D WHEN THE NEW TOWER IS OPERATIONAL.  Apparently the tower is not yet opperational but FAA still went ahead and published the change in the sectional charts (with the note to check notams on whether or not class E or class D existed in any given day..depending when/if the tower came online).
     
    This was a tricky one but a fellow who flies to KUNV often pointed this out to me and it all became clear.  A real ‘Dur’ moment.

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  4. Brent on Sep 29, 2010

    Ryan,
    When I first saw your question, I checked the charts and saw the same notation about checking the NOTAMs that you did. However, when I tried to find the relevant current NOTAM, I came up empty. I checked a few online sources and went as far as getting a DUATs briefing for an imaginary flight to KUNV. Where did you find the NOTAM?

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  5. Ryan on Sep 29, 2010

    The airspace was modified back in January (the actual modification) in anticipation of the tower opening, but it hasn’t yet. The first place it would likely show up is in a NOTAM unless they can sucessfully time it with a publishing cycle.
    Also on the chart, At the lower-left is  blue text stating “Class D/E (sfc) effective by NOTAM”.
    The backstory seems to be that there is going to be a tower there and that the NOTAM for whether it’s Class D or E at a given time is temporary until the tower is in full operation.  Net/Net for each and every flight make sure you get an updated list of notams as one notam may state that the airspace for the day (or time) of arrival will be class D w/ the operating tower.
    URL “Actual modification” should be: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/2010-1377.htm

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  6. Best Answer


    Matthew Waugh on Sep 29, 2010

    To summarize some of the answers – it can ONLY be class D airspace if there is an operating control tower. No other ATC facility can give you permission to operate in Class D airspace, so NY ARTCC can’t give you permission. However, the point is moot since with no operating control tower ever it’s always class E, and you don’t need permission from anybody.
    So to the person who posed the original question, if you see class D airspace then you MUST find the information on the control tower and determine it’s hours of operation. Going down any other path doesn’t address the problem. Of course the FAA doesn’t make it easy, although I guess they dropped a few breadcrumbs with the note about checking NOTAMs.

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  7. Matthew Hammer on Sep 29, 2010

    Just as a side note, this would be a good question to ask a flight service specialist when you get your preflight briefing. I’m sure they would be more than willing to go over the applicable NOTAMs with you.

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  8. Mike Pastore on Sep 30, 2010

    Hi,
    I suspect the Class D/E (to surface) requirements are implemented as needed to provide for the controlled airspace minimum VFR requirement for 1,000′ ceiling per 91.153(c) and/or to otherwise get the airspace out of the uncontrolled or Class ‘G’ VFR category for separation purposes.  Beyond that, maybe there are special events at this airport that require controlled operations (airshow?).
    In any case, this is no big deal.  There is no control tower and no approach control so you should use the CTAF on 122.8 as you normally would.   You must redouble your efforts to carefully check the NOTAMS prior to any planned flights into this airport.  When the NOTAM for Class ‘D’ is in effect, the proper communications freq will be given for controlled operations.
    You can also call Flight Service or Flight Watch while enroute to confirm if the D/E NOTAM is active (that’s how I would handle it) prior to landing or approaching the airport vicinity. 
    Nothing wrong with picking up the phone and calling the airport manager either to get more background on what the D/E thing is all about either 🙂
    Regards,
    Mike Pastore
     

     

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  9. withanh on Sep 30, 2010

    KVUO in Vancouver, WA is similar.  This is Class D airspace, but there is no operating control tower on field. 
    Upon arrival you have to contact Portland (KPDX) tower (119.0) who will grant you clearance into the Class D airspace, then they tell you to “switch to advisory” which is basically the CTAF for the field (123.0).
    When departing, you have to contact Portland tower prior to entering the active runway.  They will grant you clearance into the Class D (and tell you to remain clear of their Class C) and again tell you to switch to advisory.
    http://www.airnav.com/airport/KVUO
    In your case since there is a change from Class E to Class D pending, I agree with Mike Pastore in that you should contact Flight Service for any NOTAMs prior to your departure.
    h
    PS: Also noticed that AirNav needs to update their records, or make sure the feed they’re getting their data from is correct.  It says:
    Elevation: 1239 ft. / 377.6 m (surveyed)
    Pattern altitude: 4478 ft. MSLTRAFFIC PATTERN ALTITUDE FOR SINGLE ENGINE ACRFT 961 FT; MULTI ENGINE ACRFT 1461 FT.
    That’s some big differences from field elevation to pattern altitude.  Then shows TPA for single engine aircraft to be ~300 lower than the field…crazy!

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  10. Mike Pastore on Oct 01, 2010

    I see a few significant differences between the two airports. 
    First VUO is Class ‘D’ airspace 100% of the time.   Essentially, the fed’s have carved a tiny – and permanent – notch out of Class ‘C’ PDX to allow for VFR operations outside of normal PDX approach/departure control sequence.  However, to maintain IFR/VFR separation within the VUO segment they manage operations by the ‘D’ classification and by assigning a discrete frequency to use (119.0) which is essentially a pseudo tower frequency. 
    Whatever you are doing in and out of that airport, 119.0 will always work as long as you stay VFR, stay below 1100’MSL and within that Class D chunk of airspace (momma mia…don’t take off to the east!).  And clearly, if you plan to arrive or depart at VUO through PDX airspace, you need a transponder and you need to work PDX approach or departure control.
    By comparison, UNV is nowhere near Class ‘B’ or ‘C’ airspace and there are no approach/departure frequencies requirements for VFR operations regardless of the direction you fly or the altitude. You don’t need a transponder and there is no discrete frequency noted for UNV other than the CTAF.  As Class D/E to surface is a part time NOTAMed event, the only way to tell for sure who to talk to is to check NOTAM’s (by comparison, everything you normally need for VUO is right there on the sectional). 
    In any case, the setup for UNV means, in my mind, that there are some special functions at that airport that require IFR/VFR separations (the sole purpose for controlled airspace)….but not all the time.  They may be planning on making it 100% ‘D’ airspace, but that is most likely not why they have established a NOTAMed airspace sequence at this time.  I may be wrong on this, but I would be surprised.
    BTW – as I’m sure you know, a lot of ‘D’ airports shut down at night and become ‘E’ to surface airports so this whole part time Class ‘D’ thing is not all that unusual – though the way it is set up at UNV certainly is strange (just when you think you’ve seen it all!). 
    Regards, 
    Mike Pastore
     

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  11. Richard Kolbe on Nov 27, 2010

    I just called KUNV and the final answer to this question is that the Tower will not be in operation until January 2011.  So it is operating as an FBO Class E airspace at all times, until then.

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  12. Dave on Jan 25, 2011

    I live 1 mile from the airport; tower is built, lit, staff being trained, agreements being finalized with surrounding airports; not open yet. Consider rules as if flying to a towered field when tower is closed; ctaf 122.8. Tower will be private, radio only ( no radar for separation until they can buy one), and operate 5am-11pm.
    Interesting to look at: spinks & grand prairie fields near Dallas, tx; towers, but no class D!

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  13. Kent Shook on Jan 31, 2011

    Dave,
     
    I’m looking at the chart and it looks to me like Spinks and Grand Prairie have class D? I think maybe they didn’t used to, though, as I seem to remember *something* down there being towered without a D, but I’m sure not seeing it now.

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  14. Malcolm Dickinson on Mar 09, 2012

    It’s now March 2012 and UNV still has no operating control tower.  The class D airspace appears on the chart in anticipation of the tower opening someday soon.
    In the meantime, you treat this airport exactly the same as if you were arriving or departing at some other class D airport after the tower had closed for the night.  It’s class E airspace and you use the advisory frequency.

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