UNICOM

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Universal Communications or as known by its abbreviation, UNICOM, is an air-ground communication facility operated by a private agency to provide advisory service at uncontrolled aerodromes and airports.^[1]

Description

UNICOM is employed at airports with a low volume of general aviation traffic and where no control tower is presently active. UNICOM stations typically use a single communications frequency. Some fields always offer UNICOM service while others revert to UNICOM procedures only during hours when the control tower is closed.

In this system or protocol, aircraft may call a non-government ground station to make announcements of their intentions. In some cases, the ground station is not staffed. If no one is staffing the ground station, pilots broadcast their location and intentions over the UNICOM channel. When the ground station is closed this is done without an acknowledgement.

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.

Frequencies

USA

In the United States, radio frequencies made available by the Federal Communications Commission for use as UNICOM are:

• 122.700 MHz
• 122.725 MHz
• 122.800 MHz
• 122.950 MHz
• 122.975 MHz
• 123.000 MHz
• 123.050 MHz
• 123.075 MHz

Canada

In Canada, the radio frequencies assigned for UNICOM are:^[1]

• 122.7 MHz
• 122.8 MHz
• 123.0 MHz
• 123.3 MHz
• 123.5 MHz
• 122.75 MHz
• 122.95 MHz
• 123.35 MHz
• 122.725 MHz
• 122.775 MHz
• 122.825 MHz

See also

• MULTICOM
• CTAF

References

• "Chapter 4: Air Traffic Control," Airman's Information Manual (Washington, DC: Superintendent of Documents, 1999).