nontowered

Non-towered, or non-towered in aviation parlance, describes airports and aerodromes that do not have an operating control tower or on-site air traffic controllers. In such facilities, there is no dedicated facility providing separation or sequencing for arriving and departing aircraft.

Operations rely on pilots to coordinate movements through radio communication on a common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF) or UNICOM and by using published airport information. Weather information is normally provided by automated sources such as AWOS or ASOS, or by pilots on request.

At non-towered airports, pilots announce their positions and intentions to other traffic and comply with standard right-of-way rules and published procedures. Standard traffic patterns are commonly left-hand, unless the airport has published exceptions. Pilots typically enter the traffic pattern at a designated airspeed and altitude, and coordinate with others before entering runways.

IFR operations may be conducted into non-towered fields if they lie within controlled airspace and a clearance has been issued, but VFR operations dominate. The absence of a control tower means greater responsibility on pilots for separation and situational awareness, particularly during busy times, poor weather, or in congested airspace.

Non-towered airports are widespread in rural and regional areas and are a key feature of many national aviation systems. They offer relatively low-cost access to aviation and can serve as community hubs with limited services and facilities, such as fuel, hangars, or maintenance, depending on location.