More proficient with radio calls?

[BoDEAN]

Any tips on having students get more proficient with radio calls at class c/d airports? We fly at an uncontrolled field. Some of my students still choke when on the radios with approach/tower

 

[Av8rPHX]

As dorky as it may sound, have them practice it with a recorder,then play it back and go over the things with them that need touchups. If they can hear what they are not doing correctly instead of just being told,they may grasp the concept quicker. It also never hurts either to just have them listen to ATC for a while while at the airport,it gives them a chance to hear daily ops while not being under pressure... Hope this helps

 

[AxisVDP]

At my school we had a worksheet with just blanks for stuff like your callsign, departure heading and altitude, etc. So we had something like Clerance on _____: Clearance, ______ (Callsign); ______(Callsign) is a _____ (Type) Departing _____ (Heading) at ______ ft (Altitude) with information ______(Current Information Identifier). We had something like that for Calling Ground all the way to Approach, and that really helped me learn how to speak on the radios. Besides that, I just listened to my instructor speak.

 

[Lazy8]

Practice makes perfect... Or close enough to perfect. If they're having trouble with the radio in controlled airspace then fly in controlled airspace more often. Then again, what do i know! =)

G

 

[midlifeflyer]

At my school we had a worksheet with just blanks for stuff like your callsign, departure heading and altitude, etc. So we had something like

That's not that dorky, although the sheet can become a bit of a crutch. The communications are pretty consistent not matter what airport, I've seen pilots who have no idea of the process that is taking place outside the four corners of the cheat sheet.

I teach out of a busy Class D and give my new students a sheet that describes the typical communications that take place at our airport. It covers a flight from our ramp area to the practice area and back, from initial call to ground to "taxi to the ramp".

When you teach at a non-towered field, you probably should be very familiar with the towered airports you use for tra8inig purpose, so there's no reason that you can't do the same thing.

If it helps any, those of us who teach at towered fields have exactly the same problem when we bring our students to a non-towered airport the first time. Talking in the blind, to nobody in particular and deciding on your own what to do and when can be very disconcerting to those who are used to the back and forth of Class C and Dcommunication.

 

[91100 100 set]

this worked for my students...

The school I taught at had some handheld radios that people could check out and borrow. If they couldn't get the hang of talking on the radio, I'd tell them to get a radio, get a lawnchair and some sunscreen and go out to the airport fence, sit in the sun with the radio on, and just listen to the radio calls as the planes made their way around the pattern. Try to figure out who was saying what, and when they were saying it. I think it worked for some of them, and it's not a bad way to spend an hour or two working on a tan.

 

[macfly]

You can also listen to approach control via the web at certain airports, I think ATL and Dallas?

Dunno how much that would help, if any.

I was one of the ones who got there PPL at a class D non towered airport. When I went to DAB to get my multi rating I had to learn to really use the radios. It is just a learning process.

 

[U-I pilot]

Just keep going into controlled airspace.

Also before having student make the call, have them say it to you or just to themselves, before over the air...It clerifies it ahead of time so that you are prepared once you key the mic.
Most onlines may not help as most are instrument procedures but you can find purdues and other smaller airport comms online

 

[IFlyGC]

Two things I find really help.....

1) Take the student up to the tower to meet the humans who work there. A few students stumble because they forget who they're talking to (humans). Just avoid introducing them to the "Mr. Happy" of the group.

2) Remind them that all they need to do is talk in English. A lot of students worry over the EXACT wording of a clearance. It doesn't really matter if they say:

"36X holding short of 24L ready for takeoff"
"36X is holding short of the runway and would like to takeoff"
"erm, tower.....I want to take off please"

Well yeah, I was kidding with the last one but if you remind the student that all they need to do is construct a sentence in English they'll get over it in a heartbeat.

~Fly~

 

[User546]

When I was a student pilot I initially had problems with the radio. The way I fixed that was I took a bunch of index cards, and on each one I would write a scenario, and then the proper radio call out.

For instance:
ENTERING AIRSPACE: "Valley Tower, Archer 296ME, 10 miles to the east, inbound, full stop, with Tango"

TAXIING: "Valley Ground, Archer 296ME, Abeam Cutter, With Information Tango, Taxi to Active."

And then my girlfriend would take the collection of cards, and read off the different scenarios and I would have to "read back" to her the proper phraseology.

After I started doing that, it all fell together, and worked great.

 

[User546]

And I also second the earlier post about having them listen to live streaming ATC on the net.

I recommend: http://www.squawkvfr.com

Have them listen to the Scottsdale Airport link, there's always a lot of activity (both corporate and g.a.) going on there.

 

[BoDEAN]

Thanks!