Small Aircraft; Low Wing; 1 Eng; Fixed Gear
Flight Crew Private; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 145; Flight Crew Total 173; Flight Crew Type 145
Distraction; Situational Awareness; Time Pressure; Confusion; Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Ground Conflict; Less Severe; Ground Incursion Runway
Flight Crew Landed As Precaution
Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors; Staffing; Aircraft
During this incident I was on a checkride and we ran a partial panel VOR Runway X approach with a circle to Runway XY. This is normally a Class D airspace but the Tower at ZZZ is currently closed due to COVID and this has presented some challenges to the arriving and departing process given we share the airport with airline operations. We made it to the left downwind for XY and there was a carrier aircraft holding short of XY getting ready to take the runway and they requested over CTAF for us to extend our downwind so they could takeoff. We extended our downwind about a mile or so and decided to turn base. About the time we were turning base there was another carrier that called a 10 mile final for XY. With the position report given; we were under the impression we had the appropriate spacing for us to get on the ground and off the runway before they reached the field. We continued and turned in for final and the carrier taking off was on the roll. I made position reports and heard nothing back that would indicate an issue. When we were on short final carrier made a 6 mile final call. I then made a position call for short final and we were within a half mile of landing. About the time I was roughly 100 feet over the runway threshold; the carrier aircraft called and stated; 'Aircraft on short final; we are going around and will be flying above you.' We landed safely and had to extend our ground roll down the runway to exit because another carrier aircraft was taxiing to Runway XY via Taxiway A and we had to taxi beyond where they were. That concludes the incident. I do not know how accurate the position reports were from carrier or their speed but there didn't appear to be an issue on spacing and if they knew they were catching us that fast they could have let us know and I would have executed a go-around. This was not a near-miss event and we never saw the aircraft near us on ADS-B radar or receive any traffic notification. It seems to be more lack of communication in a non-towered environment with busy airspace as a root cause. I think they were well aware of our location in front of them and didn't speak up to let us know how quick they were catching us. I feel like there should be some additional measures in place when a tower is closed at an airport like this with heavier volume and many different types and sizes of aircraft operating. Sharing an airport between GA and airline ops in a non-towered environment is setting the stage for incidents like this to happen and truly presents some added challenges and hazards.
GA pilot reported CTAF communication challenges at an airport that normally would have a working Tower facility; but was closed due to COVID-19.