In light of various claims of folklore and nothing having changed, I figured I would dig out an old AIP and compare. I had one from 2010, which is probably a good age - not prehistoric, but old enough to be prior to the current set of changes.
There are 2 sections dealing with the CTAF frequency - Climb and Cruise Procedures, and Procedures at Non-Towered Aerodromes.
2010 AIP
OPERATIONS IN CLASS G AIRSPACE - CLIMB AND CRUISE PROCEDURES
A pilot of a flight intending to operate in the vicinity of a non-towered aerodrome at altitudes used by arriving and departing aircraft should:
a) monitor the appropriate CTAF, and broadcast by 10NM or earlier
It does not specify the appropriate CTAF but it is obviously the aerodrome CTAF
CLASS G AIRSPACE - The Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF) and procedures at non-towered aerodromes
The CTAF is the frequency on which pilots operating at a non-towered aerodrome should make positional radio broadcasts. If a discrete frequency is not listed use Multicom 126.7MHZ.
Pretty clear - if no other frequency is listed, use Multicom 126.7. No mention of whether or not the aerodrome is marked on charts, or the area frequency.
6 MAR 2014 AIP
OPERATIONS IN CLASS G AIRSPACE - CLIMB AND CRUISE PROCEDURES
Pilots of radio-equipped VFR aircraft must listen out on the appropriate VHF frequency and announce if in potential conflict.
The appropriate VHF frequency is:
a) in the vicinity of an aerodrome depicted on aeronautical charts, with a discrete frequency, the discrete CTAF shown.
b) in the vicinity of an aerodrome depicted on aeronautical charts, with no discrete frequency, the CTAF 126.7
c) in all other cases the FIA frequency
OK, here we have the aeronautical charts and area frequency appearing.
CLASS G AIRSPACE - The Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF) and procedures at non-towered aerodromes
The CTAF is the frequency on which pilots operating at a non-towered aerodrome should make positional radio broadcasts. If a discrete frequency is not listed use Multicom 126.7MHZ.
No change to procedures at non-towered aerodromes - still use 126.7!
21 AUG 14 AIP
OPERATIONS IN CLASS G AIRSPACE - CLIMB AND CRUISE PROCEDURES
Pilots of radio-equipped VFR aircraft must listen out on the appropriate VHF frequency and announce if in potential conflict.
The appropriate VHF frequency is:
a) in the vicinity of an aerodrome depicted on aeronautical charts, with a discrete frequency, the discrete CTAF shown.
b) in the vicinity of an aerodrome depicted on aeronautical charts, with no discrete frequency, the CTAF 126.7
c) in all other cases Area VHF
No significant difference from 6 MAR 2014.
CLASS G AIRSPACE - The Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF) and procedures at non-towered aerodromes
Entire section is deleted!
My observations:
- Each Climb and Cruise procedures section specifies the frequency that the pilot should be listening to, not broadcasting on.
- The initial change appears to be trying to say that, in climb and cruise, if the aerodrome is not marked on charts you should be listening to area not 126.7 - which seems reasonable as these would normally be low traffic airfields.
- This seems to have created some confusion because of a perceived requirement to that aircraft in climb or cruise should be receiving broadcasts from aircraft operating at unmarked strips. In practice this is debatable - the likelihood of conflict appears to be much lower than with other aircraft in cruise, yet no broadcast is required there.
- It is slightly bizarre that the whole Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF) and procedures at non-towered aerodromes section has been deleted. They seem to have seen a conflict with the cruise and climb procedures and decided it was redundant, without realizing that it applies to a different phase of flight.
Conclusion:
It definitely has changed - even 6 March 2014 clearly says that 126.7 should be used if no frequency is listed. The distinction between marked an unmarked strips is only in the climb and cruise procedures, not operations at the airfield.