ATC IFR Untowered airfield

[Archimago]

I am studying towards IFR and doing some self study using a sim and getting familiar with the system and flying approaches, holds etc. Hoping to have all of that knowledge pat before paying an instructor to watch me struggle with the minutiae .
sooo... When landing at an untowered airport do you stay with ATC all the way to landing or are you released to the local CTAF frequency?
If you go missed approach to a hold (assuming you have left ATC for local CTAF) do you reconnect with ATC for clearance from the hold?)

Thanks!

 

[AggieMike88]

You are released to the local CTAF within a short period of being provided your approach clearance.

But just before ATC let's you go, you are advised to cancel your IFR with him while in the air or by calling Flight Service once on the ground. If close enough to a TRACON, you might also be provided the frequency of the RCO that can be used on the ground.

RCO frequencies are also listed in the Chart Supplement (used to be known as the A/FD) in the communications section for the airport. Looking for this and how to reach ATC for clearance delivery/cancellation and then recording on your kneeboard is encouraged.


If you go missed, start flying the missed approach instructions. Only after being stable, climbing, and on the published missed approach course, make your announcement on CTAF and then switch back to the frequency of the controller who gave you the clearance to advise him you went missed. (aviate, navigate, then communicate.... in that order).

Listen for instructions or questions from the controller as he will want to know your intentions and will have instructions to get you where you need to shoot another approach.

 

[Hildy]

You're probably used to ATC saying "frequency change approved" when you cancel VFR flight following or exit a Class C, etc. Once you're established on an instrument approach procedure into a non-towered airport ATC will approve you to change to the advisory frequency. That's your cue to change over to the CTAF and start making your non-towered radio calls.

Before the controller approves you to change to the advisory frequency, you will receive missed approach instructions. At a non-towered airport, those instructions will include the procedure for when to re-contact the center or approach control if you go missed. Usually it's "upon entering controlled airspace." Non-towered airports with instrument approach procedures are usually the ones you've seen on a sectional with the shaded, magenta ring which indicates that controlled, Class E airspace begins at 700 AGL. I can't recall ever doing an instrument approach at a non-towered airport that is Class E all the way to the surface, so I don't know exactly how the controller would phrase the instructions at one of those. In any case, you will receive instructions about when and how to re-connect with the controller before being approved to change to advisory, and if the controller forgets to give them to you, you can always just ask before making the switch.

 

[Archimago]

You are released to the local CTAF within a short period of being provided your approach clearance.

But just before ATC let's you go, you are advised to cancel your IFR with him while in the air or by calling Flight Service once on the ground. If close enough to a TRACON, you might also be provided the frequency of the RCO that can be used on the ground.

RCO frequencies are also listed in the Chart Supplement (used to be known as the A/FD) in the communications section for the airport. Looking for this and how to reach ATC for clearance delivery/cancellation and then recording on your kneeboard is encouraged.


If you go missed, start flying the missed approach instructions. Only after being stable, climbing, and on the published missed approach course, make your announcement on CTAF and then switch back to the frequency of the controller who gave you the clearance to advise him you went missed. (aviate, navigate, then communicate.... in that order).

Listen for instructions or questions from the controller as he will want to know your intentions and will have instructions to get you where you need to shoot another approach.

That makes sense. Thanks for clarifying. much appreciated

 

[Archimago]

You're probably used to ATC saying "frequency change approved" when you cancel VFR flight following or exit a Class C, etc. Once you're established on an instrument approach procedure into a non-towered airport ATC will approve you to change to the advisory frequency. That's your cue to change over to the CTAF and start making your non-towered radio calls.

Yes, that is what I am used to hearing in VFR world. So IFR is similiar in terms of hand off.

In any case, you will receive instructions about when and how to re-connect with the controller before being approved to change to advisory, and if the controller forgets to give them to you, you can always just ask before making the switch.

That is helpful, thanks for the thorough response

 

[luvflyin]

I am studying towards IFR and doing some self study using a sim and getting familiar with the system and flying approaches, holds etc. Hoping to have all of that knowledge pat before paying an instructor to watch me struggle with the minutiae .
sooo... When landing at an untowered airport do you stay with ATC all the way to landing or are you released to the local CTAF frequency?
If you go missed approach to a hold (assuming you have left ATC for local CTAF) do you reconnect with ATC for clearance from the hold?)

Thanks!

Read AIM 4-1-5. Here’s the Controllers rules about that:

4−8−8. COMMUNICATIONS RELEASE
If an IFR aircraft intends to land at an airport not served by a tower or FSS, approve a change to the advisory service frequency when you no longer require direct communications.
PHRASEOLOGY−
CHANGE TO ADVISORY FREQUENCY APPROVED.
NOTE−
An expeditious frequency change permits the aircraft to receive timely local airport traffic information in accordance with AC 90−42, Traffic Advisory Practices at Airports Without Operating Control Towers.

Read AIM 5-4-21 f. Controllers may or may not give you specific instructions about this, if not then you just do it. Impress your instructor by not getting rushed and heeding @AggieMike88 ’s advice above about aviating, navigating and communicating in that order. There is no rush, they have the airspace protected for you all the way to the Missed Approach Fix, including the hold.