Plain English Meaning

Airports with no tower controller telling pilots when to land, take off, or where to go. Pilots talk to each other on a shared radio frequency and work out the order themselves.

Full Definition

Airports without an operating control tower, where pilots are responsible for sequencing themselves into the traffic pattern and separating from other aircraft using self-announced position reports on a common radio frequency (CTAF).

Context Anchor

You see this term when planning, teaching, or practicing takeoffs and landings at airports without an operating control tower.

Derivation

"Uncontrolled" here refers to the absence of an active tower at the — not to the being unregulated or to pilots flying without rules. The still has ; what it lacks is a controller issuing instructions.