Non-towered · Class G at the surface
Lopez Island (S31) radio calls
Lopez, WAFAA identifier S31; no ICAO code assigned
Lopez Island is a non-towered airport in Lopez, WA. Nobody clears you to do anything: you self-announce on the CTAF, 128.25, as Lopez Island 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
| CTAFLopez Island Traffic | 128.25 |
|---|
Airport
- Runways
- 16 · 34
- Right-hand pattern
- Runway 16
- Elevation
- 209 ft
- Position
- 48.484, -122.938
Non-towered airport: self-announce on the CTAF
Sample calls at S31
Lopez Island has no operating control tower. Every call below goes out on the CTAF, 128.25, to the other aircraft, not to a controller. The runway shown is 16, which has a right-hand pattern; 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.
- Tune 128.25. 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).
- YouLopez Island traffic, Cessna Three One Six Zero Foxtrot, taxiing to runway one six, Lopez Island.
- YouLopez Island traffic, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, departing runway one six, departing the pattern to the north, Lopez Island.
- 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).
- YouLopez Island traffic, Cessna Three One Six Zero Foxtrot, one zero miles south, two thousand five hundred, landing Lopez Island, Lopez Island.
- YouLopez Island traffic, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, entering left downwind runway one six, full stop, Lopez Island.
- YouLopez Island traffic, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, left base runway one six, Lopez Island.
- YouLopez Island traffic, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, final runway one six, full stop, Lopez Island.
- YouLopez Island traffic, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, clear of runway one six, Lopez Island.
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 →
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Frequencies, runways and airspace from the FAA National Airspace System Resources (NASR) 28-day subscription, cycle effective Sep 3, 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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