What is UNICOM?

VATSIM’s UNICOM is 122.800 and all pilots shall be monitoring UNICOM when they are not under Air Traffic Control authority.

UNICOM is the frequency that all pilots, operating on VATSIM, should have tuned into their radio when they are not talking to an Air Traffic Controller. UNICOM is also known, in some countries, as CTAF or the “Central Traffic Advisory Frequency”.

What do I say?

When you are about to taxi to a runway, say something like: “(AIRPORT) traffic, (CALLSIGN) taxiing to runway (RUNWAY) via (TAXI ROUTE).”

When you are the first aircraft in line to takeoff, before entering the runway, say something like: “(AIRPORT) traffic, (CALLSIGN), taking off runway (RUNWAY).”

When you are clear of the runway, either after takeoff or landing, say something like: “(AIRPORT) traffic, (CALLSIGN), clear of runway (RUNWAY).”

When you are approaching an airport, it is a great idea to make an announcement about 25nm from the airport. This gives other aircraft a heads-up that you are approaching the airport. Say something like: “(AIRPORT) traffic, (CALLSIGN), (# of miles from the field), planning runway (RUNWAY).”

When you are turning final, it is imperative that you say the following: “(AIRPORT) traffic, (CALLSIGN), final for runway (RUNWAY).”

If you are in the VFR traffic pattern, you should announce each leg of the VFR traffic pattern. You can say something like: “(AIRPORT) traffic, (CALLSIGN), (LEFT/RIGHT) (UPWIND, CROSSWIND, DOWNWIND, BASE, FINAL), runway (RUNWAY).”

When you are taxiing to an area on the airport’s surface (terminal, general aviation ramp, etc.), say something like: “(AIRPORT) traffic, (CALLSIGN), taxiing to the (TERMINAL/GA RAMP, etc) via (TAXI ROUTE).”