Lesson B4 0:58 9 of 26
Where to find the hours of a part-time tower, and what happens to the airspace when the tower closes.
The video plays from YouTube. FAA San Francisco Sectional, effective 29 OCT 2026. Not for navigation.
A star after the tower frequency means the tower is part-time. The legend sends you to a table for the hours. The table is on the side panel of the chart. Its title is Control Tower Frequencies. Its hours are in local time.
The Salinas tower opens at 6 in the morning from October through March, and at 5 from April through September. It closes at 7 at night. The Monterey tower is open from 6 in the morning to 9 at night. The Reid-Hillview tower is open from 7 in the morning to 10 at night.
When a tower closes, its airspace changes. Class D at Salinas and Reid-Hillview becomes Class G. Class C at Monterey becomes Class E. Then use the CTAF to announce your position. At Salinas, the CTAF also turns on the runway lights. Hours can change. Check the Chart Supplement and NOTAMs before you fly.
Before you fly, check the current chart, the Chart Supplement and NOTAMs.
A discovery flight is actual flight training with a certified flight instructor at the Salinas Airport. Your hands on the controls, with the chart on your knee.
