Non-towered · Class E surface area

Cold Bay (PACD) radio calls

Cold Bay, AKICAO PACD · FAA CDB

Cold Bay is a non-towered airport in Cold Bay, AK. Nobody clears you to do anything: you self-announce on the CTAF, 123.6, as Cold Bay Traffic, with the airport name at the start and end of each call.

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

Frequencies

CTAFCold Bay Traffic123.6

Airport

Runways
08 · 26 · 15 · 33
Right-hand pattern
Runway 26, 33
Elevation
100 ft
Position
55.206, -162.726

Non-towered airport: self-announce on the CTAF

Sample calls at PACD

Cold Bay 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 08; 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. YouCold Bay traffic, Cessna Three One Six Zero Foxtrot, taxiing to runway zero eight, Cold Bay.
  3. YouCold Bay traffic, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, departing runway zero eight, departing the pattern to the north, Cold Bay.
  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. YouCold Bay traffic, Cessna Three One Six Zero Foxtrot, one zero miles south, two thousand five hundred, landing Cold Bay, Cold Bay.
  6. YouCold Bay traffic, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, entering left downwind runway zero eight, full stop, Cold Bay.
  7. YouCold Bay traffic, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, left base runway zero eight, Cold Bay.
  8. YouCold Bay traffic, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, final runway zero eight, full stop, Cold Bay.
  9. YouCold Bay traffic, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, clear of runway zero eight, Cold Bay.

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 Alaska

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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