Central Illinois Regional Airport at Bloomington-Normal frequencies

Central Illinois Regional Airport at Bloomington-Normal (BMI · KBMI) in Bloomington/Normal, IL is a towered field, staffed 0600-2200. Every frequency below is in the order you tune it, from the first call to the handoff on climb out. · Open on the map

All of Central Illinois Regional Airport at Bloomington-Normal — runways, frequencies, charts and live weather

When the KBMI tower is closed

The tower is staffed 0600-2200. Outside those hours Central Illinois Regional Airport at Bloomington-Normal has no operating control tower: it becomes a self announce field on 124.6, and separation from other traffic is yours, not a controller's. Report your position and intentions on entry and on each leg of the pattern.

Runway lighting is often pilot controlled once the tower closes — check the KBMI airport page for the click sequence, and what to say on the radio.

Before taxi Bloomington

ATIS 119.575
A recorded loop of the field's weather, active runway and any notices, updated hourly or whenever conditions change. Listen before your first call, and tell the controller which letter you have so they do not read it to you again.
ASOS/AWOS 135.35
An automated weather station reading the field conditions aloud — wind, visibility, ceiling, temperature and altimeter. It replaces ATIS at a field with no controller to record one. Get the altimeter setting before you descend below the transition altitude.

Taxi & takeoff Bloomington

Ground 121.65
Ground control owns every taxiway and inactive runway on the field. Call for taxi with your position and destination on the field. You need an explicit clearance to cross any runway, including one that is not in use.
Tower 124.6
Tower owns the active runways and the surrounding surface area. Call before entering the surface area inbound, and hold short until you are cleared to take off or to cross.

Departure & arrival Saint Louis

App/Dep 128.725
One radar controller working both arrivals and departures — normal at a smaller TRACON. The same frequency takes your climb out and your inbound call.

Also

CTAF 124.6
The common frequency pilots use to announce themselves to each other at a field with no operating control tower. Nobody is controlling traffic — you are self announcing. Report your position and intentions on entry and on each leg of the pattern, and listen well before you transmit.
UNICOM 122.95
A ground station run by the FBO rather than the FAA, for fuel, parking and airport services. Use it for services. Where the field has no separate CTAF, the same frequency doubles as the advisory frequency.
Emergency 121.5
121.5 is the international emergency and distress frequency, monitored continuously. Declare on it if you are in trouble, and monitor it as a second radio when you have one free.
By procedure & sector (3 more)
108.2/19XBMI DME
256.9APCH/P DEP/P
269.575LCL/P
Every KBMI frequency, as one table
ATIS119.575
ASOS/AWOS135.35
Ground121.65
Tower124.6
CTAF124.6
UNICOM122.95
Emergency121.5
App/Dep128.725

Frequently asked

What is the tower frequency at KBMI?

Central Illinois Regional Airport at Bloomington-Normal tower is 124.6, calling "Bloomington Tower". The tower is staffed 0600-2200.

What frequency do I use at KBMI when the tower is closed?

Outside 0600-2200, Central Illinois Regional Airport at Bloomington-Normal has no operating control tower and becomes a self announce field. Use 124.6 as the CTAF and report your position and intentions — there is nobody to clear you, so separation is yours.

What is the ground frequency at KBMI?

Ground control at Central Illinois Regional Airport at Bloomington-Normal is 121.65. You need an explicit clearance from ground to cross any runway while taxiing, including one that is not in use.

What is the ATIS frequency at KBMI?

ATIS at Central Illinois Regional Airport at Bloomington-Normal is 119.575. Listen before your first call and report the letter you have.

What is the approach frequency for KBMI?

App/Dep for Central Illinois Regional Airport at Bloomington-Normal is 128.725, working as "Saint Louis". Call inbound for flight following or to begin an instrument approach.