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Non-towered · Class G at the surface

Big Sandy (3U8) radio calls

Big Sandy, MTFAA identifier 3U8; no ICAO code assigned

Big Sandy is a non-towered airport in Big Sandy, MT. Nobody clears you to do anything: you self-announce on the CTAF, 122.9, as Big Sandy Traffic, with the airport name at the start and end of each call.

No Class B, C, D or E surface area is designated for this airport in the FAA data, so the airspace at the surface is Class G.

Frequencies

CTAFBig Sandy Traffic122.9

Airport

Runways
06 · 24 · 13 · 31
Elevation
2,699 ft
Pattern altitude
800 ft MSL (published TPA)
Position
48.163, -110.114

Non-towered airport: self-announce on the CTAF

Sample calls at 3U8

Big Sandy has no operating control tower. Every call below goes out on the CTAF, 122.9, to the other aircraft, not to a controller. The runway shown is 06; use whichever runway the wind and the traffic dictate on the day.

The aircraft is the AIM’s own example, Cessna Three One Six Zero Foxtrot; the squawk codes, altitudes and headings are illustrative. Frequencies, station names and runway numbers are this airport’s, from the FAA data.

  1. Tune 122.9. Nobody clears you; you announce and you listen. The airport name goes at the start and the end of every call, and the runway is always a number, never "the active" (AIM 4-1-9 g 8).
  2. YouBig Sandy traffic, Cessna Three One Six Zero Foxtrot, taxiing to runway zero six, Big Sandy.
  3. YouBig Sandy traffic, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, departing runway zero six, departing the pattern to the north, Big Sandy.
  4. Announce until you are about 10 miles out; on the way back, start announcing at 10 miles (AIM 4-1-9 c 1, TBL 4-1-1).
  5. YouBig Sandy traffic, Cessna Three One Six Zero Foxtrot, one zero miles south, two thousand five hundred, landing Big Sandy, Big Sandy.
  6. YouBig Sandy traffic, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, entering left downwind runway zero six, full stop, Big Sandy.
  7. YouBig Sandy traffic, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, left base runway zero six, Big Sandy.
  8. YouBig Sandy traffic, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, final runway zero six, full stop, Big Sandy.
  9. YouBig Sandy traffic, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, clear of runway zero six, Big Sandy.

If things change. Do not use "any traffic in the area, please advise"; the AIM says it is not to be used under any condition (AIM 4-1-9 g 1). Listen for ten miles before you arrive; most of what you want to know has already been said.

Phraseology from AIM 4-1-9 c 1, g 1, g 8, h; TBL 4-1-1; 4-3-3. What TowerTalk grades against →

The calls you will make here

Nearby in Montana

Frequencies, runways and airspace from the FAA National Airspace System Resources (NASR) 28-day subscription, cycle effective Oct 29, 2026. Training use only. Always verify against a current Chart Supplement and sectional chart before flight; frequencies change. TowerTalk is not affiliated with the FAA. Report a discrepancy.

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