Definition
The radio frequency, expressed in megahertz (MHz), assigned to the air traffic control tower at a controlled airport. Pilots tune this frequency to communicate with the tower controller for takeoff clearance, landing clearance, and movement within the tower's airspace.
Plain English
The radio channel you set on your radio to talk to the control tower at an airport.
Context Anchor
Seen on airport information pages, flight displays, radio panels, and emergency or autoland displays when communication with the airport control tower is needed.
Derivation
Frequency comes from a Latin word meaning repeated occurrence. In radio use, it means the exact rate of a radio signal, which is why pilots use it to mean a specific radio channel.
Why Pilots Care
Contact with the tower on this frequency provides landing clearance, takeoff clearance, and traffic advisories essential for safe operations in the airport traffic pattern.
Intuition Check
Tower frequency does not mean how often a tower is used. In aviation, frequency means a specific radio channel, and tower means the airport controllers handling runway and nearby aircraft movement.
Example Sentence 1
After being handed off by approach, the pilot switched to the tower frequency and reported a three-mile final.
Example Sentence 2
After switching to the tower frequency, the student pilot received takeoff instructions.