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Tower Closed

Asked by: 1513 views Commercial Pilot, FAA Regulations, Student Pilot

Hi. I’m reviewing requirements for Commercial Pilot SEL. One of them says you need 5 hours of Night VFR with 10 takeoffs and 10 landings at an airport with an operating control tower.  Do these flights need to take place during which the control tower is staffed and operating?

with Covid, my local airport control tower operating hours have been reduced. Since it’s summertime, and civil twilight isn’t until 9:15pm, I  Would need to fly to an airport with longer operating hours that allow me to do the takeoffs and landings.  The reg says…an “ airport with an operating control tower”. It doesn’t say the flight has to take place while the control tower is actually staffed and controlling traffic. 

this is a technicality but one that could mean hundreds of dollars EC tea flight costs to me. 

thank you!

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1 Answers



  1. Max Trescott, Aviation News Talk podcast host on May 15, 2021

    If the tower were closed, you wouldn’t be landing at an airport with an “operating control tower.” You’d be landing at an airport with a non-operating control tower. The intent of the regulation is clearly to give pilots the experience of working with tower controllers. But if you have any doubt, talk with the DPE with whom you plan to take your checkride, and follow their guidance.

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