← All explained questions · Supplemental · III — Airport & Seaplane Base Operations
After landing and clearing the runway, the standard sequence at a towered field is
Choices
✓ switch to ground frequency only after being instructed to do so by the tower controller.correct
Per AIM 4-3-14, after landing, taxi clear of the runway and STOP — do NOT change frequency until tower instructs you to contact ground ("contact ground point niner") or you are explicitly told you may switch. Premature frequency change leaves you out of contact with the controller responsible for your aircraft.
switch to ground immediately upon crossing the hold-short line, without instruction.
Switching without instruction risks missing critical instructions and is non-standard.
remain on tower frequency until reaching the parking ramp.
Tower hands you off to ground; staying on tower clutters the frequency.
switch to CTAF and self-announce taxi intentions.
CTAF is for non-towered fields.
Why
Per AIM 4-3-14, after landing, taxi clear of the runway and STOP — do NOT change frequency until tower instructs you to contact ground ("contact ground point niner") or you are explicitly told you may switch. Premature frequency change leaves you out of contact with the controller responsible for your aircraft.
FAA source: AIM 4-3-14; AIM 4-3-14 Communicationsbrowse the reference library →
Original study question written for this course — representative of FAA knowledge-test topics, not an actual current FAA exam question.