If you’re flying a drone near an airport, knowing how to find the correct ATC frequency is essential for situational awareness and safe operations. In this Remote Pilot 101 lesson from MzeroA, Kat walks you through exactly where and how to locate air traffic control frequencies using FAA-approved resources.
How to Find the Right ATC Frequency for Drone Flying Near an Airport
Monitoring ATC frequencies is one of the smartest ways a drone pilot can improve situational awareness near airports. But once you understand why it matters, the next big question becomes: where do you actually find the right frequency to listen to? In this Remote Pilot 101 lesson, Kat walks through the easiest and most reliable way to locate tower, ground, and CTAF/UNICOM frequencies before your drone flight.
Why Finding the Correct Frequency Matters
Listening to the correct ATC or CTAF frequency gives you real-time awareness of manned aircraft operations in the area. That means you can anticipate traffic, avoid conflicts, and make smarter decisions before your drone ever leaves the ground. It’s a simple step that supports safer and more compliant operations near airports.
The Best Resource: The FAA Chart Supplement
One of the most reliable sources for airport communication frequencies is the FAA Chart Supplement. This document contains detailed information for every public-use airport in the United States, including:
- Tower
- Ground
- Clearance Delivery
- UNICOM
- CTAF
For drone pilots, this makes it an excellent preflight planning tool when operating near airport environments.
Step 1: Open the Digital FAA Chart Supplement (Free PDF)
Kat recommends starting with the FAA’s digital chart supplement, which is available online for free as a downloadable PDF. Since it’s an official FAA source, it’s one of the most dependable ways to confirm you’re looking at accurate, current frequency information.
Step 2: Search the Airport by Identifier
Once you have the chart supplement open, look up the airport using its identifier. In the video example, Kat uses:
Cobb County International Airport – McCollum Field
Airport Identifier: KRYY
Searching by identifier is typically the fastest way to find the airport page.
Step 3: Locate the Communication Section
After you find the airport listing, scroll down to the communications section. This is where the chart supplement lists all published frequencies for that airport. Kat highlights tower frequency as a key starting point for drone pilots. For KRYY, the tower frequency shown is: 125.09
Don’t Forget: Some Airports Have Multiple Frequencies
One important detail Kat mentions is that many airports publish more than one tower or ground frequency. Depending on traffic volume, time of day, or operational needs, ATC may switch between them.
That’s why it’s smart to check the full communication section and not assume there’s only one frequency in use.
Using Aviation Apps to Find ATC Frequencies
In addition to the FAA Chart Supplement, Kat explains that aviation apps can also provide frequency information quickly. Common tools include:
- ForeFlight
- SkyVector
- FAA UAS Data Portals
These tools may also display controlled airspace boundaries, airport details, and nearby restricted areas—making them useful for both compliance and safety.
What About Uncontrolled Airports? Use CTAF/UNICOM
If you’re operating near an uncontrolled airport, you may not have a tower frequency to monitor. Instead, Kat recommends listening to the CTAF or UNICOM frequency, where pilots self-announce positions and intentions.
This can give you early warning of traffic in the pattern, aircraft departing, or aircraft inbound—especially helpful when you can’t visually see the entire area.
A Simple Step That Supports Better Preflight Planning
Finding and monitoring the correct frequency is an easy habit that complements strong preflight planning. It improves situational awareness, helps maintain safe separation from manned aircraft, and reinforces responsible drone operations in shared airspace.
Ready to Become a More Confident Remote Pilot?
If you want to sharpen your drone decision-making, understand airspace better, and learn how to operate safely near airports, check out MzeroA’s full Remote Pilot course. You can try it for free at www.mzeroa.com/trial and start building the knowledge that makes safe drone flying second nature.