We don't have UNICOMs because they are next to useless as known traffic and weather can't be provided under the rules.
That's why Clive Wilson at Lord Howe no longer is listed in the ERS and no longer can provide a safe Unicom service at zero cost.
So because he couldn't provide traffic and weather advice (the latter of which he
can still provide [limited by the MOS to: "General aerodrome weather reports provided by a Unicom operator are to be limited to simple, factual statements about the weather"] which seems to be basically all the US system provides) he stopped supplying any service at all?? Wow, all that other handy stuff a Unicom is meant to provide must be important then.
My mind boggles that you actually believe that there are hundreds of FBO receptionists, baggage handlers and refuellers around the country all poised with their thumb over the press to talk, just itching to jump in and help sort out that mess in the circuit, but gagged because they can't pass traffic?
that's how we have done it since the 1950s
Actually, as you well know, up to around 20 years ago all airline (and other IFR) aircraft were provided with a minimum of either a dedicated separation service, or a directed traffic service about all other known aircraft (with unknown VFR traffic being covered by looking out the window just like now - yep, alerted and unalerted see and avoid) in
any airspace they flew in.
But then things got improved.
