AIM Text
Aircraft operating on an IFR flight plan, landing at an airport without an operating control tower will be advised to change to the airport advisory frequency when direct communications with ATC are no longer required. Towers and centers do not have nontower airport traffic and runway in use information. The instrument approach may not be aligned with the runway in use; therefore, if the information has not already been obtained, pilots should make an expeditious change to the airport advisory frequency when authorized.
Source: FAA Aeronautical Information Manual · current edition · paragraph 4-1-5.
Research Notes
AIM 4-1-5 covers communications release of IFR aircraft landing at an airport without an operating control tower — the procedure for terminating IFR comms when the destination has no tower.
The scenario: An IFR aircraft is on a clearance to a non-towered airport. As the aircraft descends and the pilot has the airport in sight, Approach (or Center) will give the pilot one of two instructions:
- "Cancel IFR — frequency change approved" (after the pilot has reported airport in sight or canceled)
- "Maintain VFR — clearance canceled, frequency change approved"
The pilot's responsibility: Once IFR is canceled (whether by ATC or by pilot request), the pilot is responsible for: (1) maintaining VFR cloud clearance per § 91.155; (2) self-announcing on the airport's CTAF; (3) using the published or established traffic pattern; (4) seeing and avoiding other traffic.
Closing the IFR flight plan: The IFR flight plan is automatically closed by ATC when the pilot cancels IFR. The pilot doesn't need to make a separate "close flight plan" call. However, if the pilot was ALSO on a separate VFR flight plan (rare but possible), that one must still be closed via FSS.
The lost-comms variation: If the IFR aircraft loses comms before getting the IFR-cancel from ATC, the pilot follows § 91.185 (lost comms procedures): proceed to the clearance limit, execute the approach if equipped, and land. See § 91.185 Research Notes for the full lost-comms framework.
Reference: § 91.185 (IFR lost comms); § 91.155 (basic VFR weather mins); AIM 5-1-13 (Canceling IFR Flight Plan).