SR22
Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 45; Flight Crew Total 1600; Flight Crew Type 807
Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
Human Factors; Procedure
I was returning late to my home base; PDK. I had been on an IFR flight plan talking with ATL Approach. I had reported the airport in sight. I was told to expect a visual to 21L and contact the Tower. Several minutes before this communication I had asked ATC if the PDK Tower was closed. I was uncertain because my latest information showed a 10pm local time closing. I was advised the Tower was open. I changed to Tower 120.9 [also the CTAF] and advised inbound; landing 21L; full stop. No response. Advised again [about 5 miles.] No response. Advised turning final. No response. Then heard an aircraft getting a clearance and I Landed. Departed the runway at the first available taxiway. Stopped at 21R. Advised crossing 21R a taxiway. Lady came on and told me to go to Unicom frequency and get off CTAF. She then cleared an air carrier for take off 3R. This was the other end of the runway I had landed on. This was not comforting. I changed to Unicom 122.9 and advised taxi. I was startled and confused by her directive. It appeared that she was ATL Clearance. My understanding was that I should use CTAF 120.9 for all communications. Given sequester related Tower closings; at busy airports like PDK; communications needs to be clear. I pulled my textbooks. It appears to me that she was wrong. It appears to me that all communications; including taxi information; should be on CTAF. This appears to me to be a potential conflict post sequestration at busy GA airports between ATC and pilots. ATC Approach told me to use 120.9. Neither the air carrier pilot nor the 'clearance' lady made any attempts to communicate with me until after I landed. This could have been a mess; given the air carrier plane was taking off in the opposite direction of my landing. Not good.
General aviation aircraft landing PDK was uncertain if the Tower was open or closed; and confused with the ATC provided information.