← All explained questions · Supplemental · III — Airport & Seaplane Base Operations

After landing at a tower-controlled field, the pilot should switch to ground frequency

Choices

automatically as soon as the runway is cleared.
Premature switch loses contact.
✓ only when instructed by tower.correct
e.g., 'contact ground point niner') OR after coming to a complete stop clear of the runway and the tower has handed off. never assume. Per AIM 4-3-14, after landing, taxi clear of runway and STOP — do NOT change frequency until tower instructs you to contact ground. Premature switch leaves you out of contact with the controller responsible for your aircraft. Some towers direct you to monitor 121.5 instead. Always wait for the explicit handoff.
before crossing the hold-short line.
Don't switch before crossing hold-short.
only at non-towered airports.
Tower fields have ground frequency.

Why

e.g., 'contact ground point niner') OR after coming to a complete stop clear of the runway and the tower has handed off. never assume. Per AIM 4-3-14, after landing, taxi clear of runway and STOP — do NOT change frequency until tower instructs you to contact ground. Premature switch leaves you out of contact with the controller responsible for your aircraft. Some towers direct you to monitor 121.5 instead. Always wait for the explicit handoff.

FAA source: AIM 4-3-14browse the reference library →

Covered in Supplemental · III — Airport & Seaplane Base Operations — study the lessons free, then practice with grading and mastery tracking.

Original study question written for this course — representative of FAA knowledge-test topics, not an actual current FAA exam question.