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Non-towered · Class E surface area

Altoona/Blair County (KAOO) radio calls

Altoona, PAICAO KAOO · FAA AOO

Altoona/Blair County is a non-towered airport in Altoona, PA. Nobody clears you to do anything: you self-announce on the CTAF, 123.6, as Altoona/Blair County Traffic, with the airport name at the start and end of each call. The approach control for the area is Johnstown Approach on 121.2, which is who you call for VFR flight following.

The airport has a Class E surface area: no radio requirement to enter, but VFR weather minimums apply to the surface.

Frequencies

CTAFAltoona/Blair County Traffic123.6
Approach / DepartureJohnstown Approach121.2

Airport

Runways
03 · 21 · 12 · 30
Elevation
1,503 ft
Position
40.296, -78.320

Non-towered airport: self-announce on the CTAF

Sample calls at KAOO

Altoona/Blair County has no operating control tower. Every call below goes out on the CTAF, 123.6, to the other aircraft, not to a controller. The runway shown is 03; 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 123.6. 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. YouAltoona/Blair County traffic, Cessna Three One Six Zero Foxtrot, taxiing to runway zero three, Altoona/Blair County.
  3. YouAltoona/Blair County traffic, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, departing runway zero three, departing the pattern to the north, Altoona/Blair County.
  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. YouAltoona/Blair County traffic, Cessna Three One Six Zero Foxtrot, one zero miles south, two thousand five hundred, landing Altoona/Blair County, Altoona/Blair County.
  6. YouAltoona/Blair County traffic, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, entering left downwind runway zero three, full stop, Altoona/Blair County.
  7. YouAltoona/Blair County traffic, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, left base runway zero three, Altoona/Blair County.
  8. YouAltoona/Blair County traffic, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, final runway zero three, full stop, Altoona/Blair County.
  9. YouAltoona/Blair County traffic, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, clear of runway zero three, Altoona/Blair County.

If things change. Want flight following after departure? Call Johnstown Approach on 121.2 once clear of the pattern: identification, type, position, altitude, destination, "request VFR flight following" (AIM 4-1-18 a 3). 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).

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 Pennsylvania

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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