How to Listen to Your Local Air Traffic Control

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: October 1, 2024 Approved

Air traffic control (ATC) is responsible for providing crucial information to pilots around busy airports. They communicate with pilots on designated radio frequencies to keep airport operations running smoothly and safely. Their communication is also accessible to the public. Whether you are a student pilot, retired pilot or just want to know what's going on in the friendly skies, you can listen to air traffic controllers at work any time.

Part 1

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Finding an Aviation Frequency

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1
Find live frequencies. Obtain a radio scanner that is capable of receiving frequencies between 118.0 and 136.975 MHz. Good brands to check out include Uniden, and Whistler. You can also find general coverage receivers from Icom, Yaesu, Grundig, Kenwood and others that will pick up air frequencies. You're better off selecting a good scanner instead of a general coverage unit, thanks to the scanner's ability to easily monitor multiple frequencies.
- Realize that in radio electronics, you get what you pay for. A scanner from one of the aforementioned brands will outperform a no-name brand that claims airline coverage. Most scanners pick up the entirety of the aircraft band.
- You can also listen to air traffic control facilities from around the world at websites including liveatc.net, globalair.com, airnav.com and radioreference.com.
2
Memorize some of the basic frequencies.
- 121.5 is the emergency frequency. If there is some sort of emergency, pilots will transmit on it. You could also hear an emergency locator beacon on this frequency if a plane crashes.
- 122.750 MHz is the frequency for general aviation air to air communications
- 123.025 MHz is the frequency for helicopters air to air communications
- 123.450 MHz is the "unofficial" frequency for air to air communications
- Search 122.0-123.65 for Unicom (uncontrolled airports) and air to air communications.
- Search 128.825-132.000 MHz for ARINC frequencies (airlines, corporate aviation and general aviation calling ahead for fuel, parking, and other requests).
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Reading Aeronautical Sectional Charts

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You most likely want to be looking for a chart of your local area from the closest airport. Older versions of these charts will usually work just fine. Online sectional charts for your local area are available on www.skyvector.com
Airports are denoted by blue or magenta circles, with lines inside representing runways. Next to the circle is a block of text with the airport name and information about that airport. The control tower frequency is denoted by CT - 000.0, where the following numbers indicate the frequency used by ATC. For example, the frequency for Wittman Regional airport in Oshkosh, WI is CT - 118.5.
If the airport is uncontrolled (no tower) or the tower operates part time, a C in a circle after a frequency number will be used to denote a Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF). A star will be after the tower frequency to denote that airport as having a part time tower. At this type of airport, pilots communicate directly with one another and tell each other their position and intentions.
All controlled airports will be denoted by blue circles, while uncontrolled airports are magenta. Airports with runways over 8,000 feet (2,438.4 m) are not enclosed in circles and simply have a diagram depicting the runway layout, which is outlined in solid blue (high traffic), solid magenta (medium traffic), or dashed blue (low traffic).
Some airports have AWOS (Automated Weather Observing System), ASOS (Automated Surface Observing System), or ATIS (Automated Terminal Information Service) frequencies listed on the chart. These are automated or repeating broadcasts that provide pilots with weather and airport information as they prepare to land or depart.
If you have access to an airport/facility directory, you can find more frequencies than those available on the chart. At larger airports, pilots receive their flight plan clearances from a "clearance delivery" frequency, communicate on taxiways with a "ground" frequency, and get takeoff and landing clearance from the "tower" frequency. Once pilots are airborne, they will talk to an "approach/departure" frequency, and once in route, they might even talk to a "center" frequency. If you are lucky or live close enough to an airport, you might be able to receive several of these frequencies.

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Part 3

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Learning Pilot Lingo

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If a controller gives a pilot an instruction, he or she will prefix it with the aircraft's identification number. For commercial flights, this will just be the flight number, such as United 2311. A smaller aircraft is identified by the number on their tail.
After the flight number, the controller will give an instruction such as "enter downwind." This instructs the pilot to enter the traffic pattern at a specific location. The pilot will then read back the instruction, so the controller can verify that it was understood correctly.
Sometimes, controllers will "hand off" a pilot to another frequency. An example would be a controller saying, "November-12345, contact Approach on 124.32, good day." Once again, the pilot will read back the instruction.
Operations at uncontrolled airports are much less formal. Most of the time, pilots will broadcast blind transmissions to anyone on the frequency, announcing their position or intentions. Words like "upwind, crosswind, downwind, base, and final" denote specific positions in the traffic pattern.
Pilots and controllers use it to communicate letters, since they can often be confused. You might also hear someone use "niner" to communicate "nine," "fife" to communicate "five," or "tree" to communicate "three."

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Why do pilots say “Niner”?

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This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

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The word “nine” can be difficult to hear properly over a muffled radio connection. Pilots pronounce it “niner” so it can’t be easily confused with other words or numbers, like “five.”

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How do pilots identify runways?

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Pilots can make use of an ILS (instrument landing system) to help them identify runways and land safely, even in poor visibility. Instruments in the cockpit detect radio signals from the runway that help guide them as they land.

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Is there an app to listen to air traffic control?

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Yes. You can listen using the LiveATC.net app. It allows you to tune into ATC towers at over 1,000 airports around the world!

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Tips

Don't be surprised if you can only hear one side of the conversation. You will most likely only be able to hear the airplane and not the controlling agency. If you are close to an airport, you can hear the ATC and the pilots.

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On the 'tune-in' radio app for the Roku box and iPod, you can tune in to frequencies for major (SFO, DCA, MIA, JFK, etc.) and local airports.

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Reading the Sectional Legend can greatly aid you in finding frequencies that will be interesting.

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Warnings

In the unlikely event that you hear an emergency situation over a local frequency such as a plane about to crash, call the Emergency Services immediately.

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The first five minutes of each hour are designated for emergency transmitter testing, so tuning into the emergency frequency may be loud during these times, but don't worry!

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Some "scanners" are actually "transceivers," which allow two way communication. NEVER communicate on aviation frequencies. The penalties are severe!

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Things You'll Need

Scanner capable of receiving frequencies between 118.0 and 139.985 MHz
Aeronautical Chart or Airport/Facility Directory of your area to find the local frequency used by ATC.