Talking to ATC

[AV8TR70]

I'm a little rusty talking to ATC, flying a jump plane doesn't have alot of talk with ATC. I'm getting ready to start flying SIC in a Jet so I need to brush up on the radio's. Any advice or flow that speeds things up?

 

[Mr Wu]

try listening HERE

 

[Amish RakeFight]

Read the communication section of the AIM.

 

[flyer172r]

Either listen to the online feeds at busy airports or, if you live near a major airport, get a radio scanner and listen to approach control.

 

[Sawmill]

I agree with flyer172r. Get a scanner and sit and repeat back ATC clearances and calls. You will still find yourself tongue tied at times even with experience...just dont sweat it too much...Yesterday in FL I had to have a controller repeat a clearence to me 3 times because he was being a jerk and wanting everyone who was listening to know how fast of a talker he was...turns out, once I got the instruction, I could repeat it back in half the time he said it because he insisted on using the phonetic alphabet to spell out each fix and I just said the name of each VOR...but I am sure someone listening thought he was cool and I was a moron. Oh well.

 

[stearnst]

I agree with flyer172r. Get a scanner and sit and repeat back ATC clearances and calls. You will still find yourself tongue tied at times even with experience...just dont sweat it too much...Yesterday in FL I had to have a controller repeat a clearence to me 3 times because he was being a jerk and wanting everyone who was listening to know how fast of a talker he was...turns out, once I got the instruction, I could repeat it back in half the time he said it because he insisted on using the phonetic alphabet to spell out each fix and I just said the name of each VOR...but I am sure someone listening thought he was cool and I was a moron. Oh well.

No, the controller was a moron.

 

[epic!]

try listening HERE

thats a cool website, thanks for the link!

 

[FlySacto]

I'm a little rusty talking to ATC, flying a jump plane doesn't have alot of talk with ATC. I'm getting ready to start flying SIC in a Jet so I need to brush up on the radio's. Any advice or flow that speeds things up?

Tough one here! Everyone has their own idea of good radio com and the AIM is really pretty light on substance. For me what works is polite, use proper formats/phonetics and be BRIEF! Listen to all those transmissions out there and think about what words you can drop and still communicate! Examples:

Argh!
"Good Afternoon Norcal approach this is Gulfstream November 555 Sugar Papa checking in with you at 18 with pilots discretion down to 13 with the numbers at San Fran"


If it were me:

"Good afternoon Norcal, Gulfstream 5,5,5 Sierra Papa, FL180 discretion 1,3 thousand, Charlie"


Center: "Gulfstream 5 Sierra Papa, traffic 2 o'clock, moving 12 o'clock, altitude indicates 8,500"

Argh!

"Yeah center were looking for that traffic and we've got him on the "fish finder" (or metal detector) indicating 500' feet below us"

If it were me:

"Looking (or Roger), Gulfstream 5 Sierra Papa"

There will be situations where you'll have to break out of the mold and have a "real" discussion when things crop up and use real world sentences to comunicate. Have fun getting into the game and try not to sound like a drunk trucker!!!

 

[AC560]

Say "with you" whenever you contact ATC.

 

[Flying Ninja]

Say "with you" whenever you contact ATC.

Ha! Yeah, this way they know you learned that from Flight Simulator.

 

[VW Pilot]

WOW!! Nice site for listning to ATC!!! Great!!!

This really helps me because I'm learing at an Uncontrolled FBO. Cool!!

 

[Sawmill]

Ha! Yeah, this way they know you learned that from Flight Simulator.

Too Funny!

 

[no1pilot2000]

Listening in on ATC communications

As a student pilot, I found it beneficial to purchase a scanner and listen to ATC frequenies if you live close to an airport, Tracon, or Air ARTCC. I live 30 minutes away from BWI and have parked at an observation area listening to various frequencies. I found it to be very helpful in understanding ATC chatter.

 

[AV8TR70]

Thanks for all the info...I've flown 10 hours in the HS-125 so far, speed and short is the key to talking with ATC from what I've seen....oh don't say "with you" not what ATC is looking for and your capt will have a cow.

 

[Super 27]

With you, sugar pop, checking in, fish finder, tally-ho, etc, contrary to popular belief, do not make you sound cool. They make you sound like an idiot, pure and simple. Not too long ago I was flying and heard another Cirrus check on with approach. As the controller's calling out traffic to him, he kept saying (with the usual fake southern drawl that every rich guy flying around thinks makes him sound cool) "yeah, I've got him on the TCAS." Finally, somebody had enough, and after he says it one more time an airliner jumps in and says "A real TCAS costs as much as your whole airplane, so no, you don't have him on the TCAS." I was cracking up at that.

The other thing that is TOTALLY obnoxious is the people who insist on giving only their callsign on the initial callup. Send your freakin' message already; if the controller's to busy to deal with you he'll tell you to stand by. But it's not going to make him want to approve your request if he has to make three radio calls when one would've sufficed...

MG

 

[time builder]

I've been working on this a lot lately.

Here's a couple pointers:
1. Know what you have to read back (altitudes, restrictions, headings, clearances, in particular), you don't necessarily have to read back things like altimeter settings, ident requests, or radar contact, but do let them know you got the message by giving them at least some response.
2. If you're talking back and forth with a controller, don't keep dragging out your transmissions with your call sign included, if they know your voice, and what you're talking about, keep things moving.
3. I've noticed my local controllers working hard not to slur words while they're talking fast, like V-O-R, it sounds funny to break between the syllables, but its effective.
4. Most of us know this, but know the routines, anticipate their needs, if you have traffic in sight, for instance, you will like likey be asked to maintain visual separation so they can relieve you or the other aircraft of an altitude or heading restriction for collision avoidance, anticipate these things.
5. Give them the information up front in a clear and concise manner (ie, don't make them play 20 questions).

 

[Ridgewoodpilot]

Say "with you" whenever you contact ATC.

Hey AC I thought its only proper to say "with you" when you're handed off to the next controller. At least thats what I was told by an old instructor, I wonder if that still holds true as opposed to the standard intro for your initial contact.

 

[GravityHater]

Find the Pilot Controller glossary too.

 

[southernpilot]

Never say, "With You".

 

[Dustin H]

Good info here

http://www.austincollins.com/radio.pdf