A pilot plans to land at a small non-towered satellite airport located within the lateral boundaries of a nearby Class D surface area whose primary airport has an operating control tower. According to 14 CFR 91.129, what must the pilot do before entering this airspace?
- AEstablish two-way radio communication with the Class D tower before entering the airspace, even though landing at the satellite airport
- BMonitor the tower frequency but no communication is required as long as the pilot remains clear of the runway
- CNo radio contact is required since the flight will land at the satellite airport, not the primary airport
- DContact the nearest Flight Service Station instead of the tower to obtain an airspace clearance
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. Establish two-way radio communication with the Class D tower before entering the airspace, even though landing at the satellite airport
Class D airspace typically extends laterally to encompass instrument procedures and may include satellite airports within its boundaries; entry into the Class D surface area still requires establishing two-way radio communication with the controlling tower, regardless of which airport within the area the pilot intends to land at. This is a commonly tested nuance under 91.129(c).
Why the other options are wrong
- B. Monitoring alone does not satisfy the two-way communication requirement of 91.129.
- C. Incorrect; the requirement is based on entering the airspace, not the landing airport.
- D. FSS does not control access to Class D airspace; only the controlling ATC facility does.
Class D Satellite Airport Entry
When a Class D surface area contains a satellite (non-towered) airport, pilots must still establish two-way radio contact with the primary airport's tower before entering the Class D airspace, even if landing elsewhere.
- Class D airspace normally extends 4 NM radius from the primary airport up to 2,500 ft AGL (dimensions vary)
- Two-way radio communication with ATC is required before entry (91.129)
- Satellite airports inside the boundary do not exempt pilots from this requirement
Memory trick: Inside the dashed blue box, always check in with the tower—no matter where you land