Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 30; Flight Crew Total 4600; Flight Crew Type 2000
Communication Breakdown; Confusion; Situational Awareness; Workload
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Landing Without Clearance
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Chart Or Publication
Before leaving; we all were trying to check DUATS and weather but were having very difficult time maintaining an internet connection due to the mass of cellular and broadband electronic traffic clogging the system. We all (both crews) could see we had CAVU weather at Alpena. We checked the Foreflight information on Alpena. I did not see a NOTAM regarding the Tower being open on the date of our flight. We reviewed the AFD and saw that the APN Tower was a Monday to Friday operation; except holidays. Weather was pressing into our departure so we hurried to preflight the planes and leave our departure airport before the weather reached the area. I departed first with another aircraft to follow in about an hour. I flew VFR at 7;500 FT and proceeded direct to Alpena. Weather was CAVU and I gave a pilot report to flight service. As I approached to within 40 miles of Alpena; I listened to ASOS; and then I called Approach Control 128.42 (as published on the approach plates) several times and got no response. As I neared the airport; I radioed UNICOM several times on 122.95 with no response. I displayed the ILS or LOC Runway 1 approach on my iPad at about 10 miles out and again called Approach Control as published with no response. I did not call Tower because my experience at other military or joint use bases was that if Approach Control was closed; the Tower was also (example NHK). The AFD had the Tower listed as a Monday-Friday operation. I landed and taxied to the gas pumps. I could not see a single person on the airport. Shortly after landing; I was approached by a person who told me the Tower wanted to talk to me and he gave me the phone number to use. The Tower scolded me for landing without a clearance; and admitted they had nothing going on at the time. I questioned them about the no response to Approach Control. They stated that they use center for Approach Control on weekends when they operate the Tower. I asked why that is not published. They had no answer. The AFD publishes an Approach Control facility frequency for operation 2100z-1300Z but does NOT specify use other hours on weekends. To prevent this from recurring; the AFD should be clarified that it will be Approach Control during weekend daylight hours when the Tower is in operation. The approach plate needs this same addition. In hindsight; I should have also called the Tower before landing and I should have used the CTAF frequency instead of the UNICOM frequency. Turbulence at the lower altitude was bouncing me around with a moderate bump requiring more attention than normal to controlling the plane and locating the airport since I had never been there before; but with all the published information showing a MON-FRI operation and Approach Control not responding; I wrongfully assumed the Tower was closed at published. I would also suggest that the AWOS could have a recorded messaged tagged on during weekend tower operation. This would also notify the errant VFR pilot that Tower was open contrary to published AFD.
The Airport Facilities Directory (AFD) does not indicate that on weekends APN is a Class D Airport and that ARTCC acts as Approach Control during that time.