135 Question

[Lear Wanna Be]

Tie goes to the Tango November aircraft in terms of ATC handling. So I have heard. However, that has not been my experience. I could be Tango, Life Guard, or on fire and I would still be last in line.

 

[Texanflyboy]

We file TN in GRR all the time. I've spent some time up in their tower visiting and they like to see 135 ops file that way because they can count you as a commercial operator using their service. When the tower does the count at the end of the night, (counting Air Carrier, Commercial Operator, GA) the Air Carriers and Commercial Operators have more weight in the count than does GA. Why do they keep track? Better stats recieve better pay scales for that tower facility. This info is directly from the tower manager in GRR who owns the FBO that we're based at.

135 ops of course don't have to file that way. I never did until I visited the tower. The AIM only recommends it and for that very reason, stats. It doesn't say it's REQUIRED, only that 135's "should" file TN. When I started filing TN, I did notice more priority handeling. Getting direct more and more often in my clearences instead of some BS airways/fixes that make my life hell. Your priority will in the end be determined by your type of a/c, some are slower than others.

If you're a Life Guard you would file LN12345. That WILL give you priority.

 

[CaptainSpaz]

Having operated under 135 on the first day flights were allowed after Sept. 11th, I can tell you that the Tango prefix was REQUIRED to be used in lieu of a callsign for 135 operators, as people stated before. After 91 operations were in full swing again the need for this Tango thing was obviously unnecessary. Hence why 95% of operators don't use it anymore.

I think I may have repeated what others said, but thats my 2 cents.

 

[cvsfly]

Having operated under 135 on the first day flights were allowed after Sept. 11th, I can tell you that the Tango prefix was REQUIRED to be used in lieu of a callsign for 135 operators, as people stated before. After 91 operations were in full swing again the need for this Tango thing was obviously unnecessary. Hence why 95% of operators don't use it anymore.

I think I may have repeated what others said, but thats my 2 cents.

Not to be repetitive, but... TN.. has been in the AIM for quite awhile(recommended, hardly ever used). I understood it to mean "air Taxi". TN had to be used after 9/11 to be allowed in the airspace. It is not necessarily indicating the operator is waiting for a registered callsign (we will never have one). It was in a FDC notam. Helps ATC know that you probably aren't going to accept a LAHSO or why you have to use different minimums/procedures. Probably may help airport authorities with their traffic counts. Could be helpful in future with changing TSA/resticted airspace procedures. Gives the FAA ramp inspectors a heads up...doh!

 

[Choppy]

We file TN in GRR all the time. I've spent some time up in their tower visiting and they like to see 135 ops file that way because they can count you as a commercial operator using their service. When the tower does the count at the end of the night, (counting Air Carrier, Commercial Operator, GA) the Air Carriers and Commercial Operators have more weight in the count than does GA. Why do they keep track? Better stats recieve better pay scales for that tower facility. This info is directly from the tower manager in GRR who owns the FBO that we're based at.

135 ops of course don't have to file that way. I never did until I visited the tower. The AIM only recommends it and for that very reason, stats. It doesn't say it's REQUIRED, only that 135's "should" file TN. When I started filing TN, I did notice more priority handeling. Getting direct more and more often in my clearences instead of some BS airways/fixes that make my life hell. Your priority will in the end be determined by your type of a/c, some are slower than others.

If you're a Life Guard you would file LN12345. That WILL give you priority.

Texanflyboy hit the nail on the head as to why the Tower wants to know if you are 135 or 91. More funding for their airport.

 

[Excel'n]

Refer to FDC Notam 2/5128 IFR Operations - General (Part 2 of 6) and FDC Notam 2/5167 VFR Operations - General (Part 2 of 7) issued shortly after 9/11 and still in effect.

"PART 135 AIRCRAFT THAT DOES NOT HAVE A COMPANY CALL SIGN MUST FILE A "T" PRIOR TO THE AIRCRAFT TAIL NUMBER."

 

[A Squared]

Just to follow up, I checked in a 1983 AIM and It says exacty the the same as the current AIM regarding hte use of "tango"

Air Taxi or other commercial operators not having FAA authorized call signs should prefix their normal identification with the phonetic word "Tango."
EXAMPLE -
Tango Aztec Two Four Six Four Alpha.

 

[LearDriver]

Refer to FDC Notam 2/5128 IFR Operations - General (Part 2 of 6) and FDC Notam 2/5167 VFR Operations - General (Part 2 of 7) issued shortly after 9/11 and still in effect.

"PART 135 AIRCRAFT THAT DOES NOT HAVE A COMPANY CALL SIGN MUST FILE A "T" PRIOR TO THE AIRCRAFT TAIL NUMBER."

I believe Excel'n is correct, and that this is the reason that our 135 Ops manual still "requires" our operation to use TN on pax flights.

 

[surveypilot]

I file TN on every part 135 leg. The only helpful thing that I have ever noticed is that at airports that use LAHSO clearances frequently, I don't ever even get asked to accept one.