Inbound traffic to a non-towered airport should monitor the appropriate facility from what distance?

• A. 5 miles
• B. 10 miles
• C. 15 miles
• D. 20 miles

Answer: (B)

When there’s no control tower, you have to manage traffic yourself by listening on the airport’s advisory frequency and announcing your position and intentions. Monitoring from a distance that provides enough lead time to hear other inbound traffic and to coordinate before you enter the pattern is essential for safe separation and smooth sequencing.

That lead-time monitoring ensures you can detect conflicts early, decide where to join the pattern, and establish communication before reaching the pattern area. Monitoring closer in reduces your reaction time, while monitoring too far out can be impractical and still won’t guarantee you’ll hear everyone clearly. So the best choice is the option that reflects this standard lead-time monitoring practice.