Tripping up on the radio

[WGP guy]

Well, I'm a student pilot and today got to do some radio work. I was at a non-towered airport and my instructor decided it was time for me to work the radio, he tells me somewhat of what to say. I kept tripping up though, like I would forget to announce who I was talking to, I would forget to announce the turn to base or clear of runway, also I kept forgetting that saying "november" was not needed. What are some ways I can better better prepare myself for radio work?

 

[Eagleflip]

I had the same problem! Here are a few tips that helped me..

1. Buy a cheap aviation frequency scanner---start with the local CTAF freq and just listen to the calls. That'll prep you for what you will be expected to say. Then take Mr. Scanner to the airport, and watch as the local aircraft run their patterns. Figure out what you would say if you were flying the aircraft--then see if they say it that way.

2. (Maybe first?) Go re-read the communication sections of the AIM...if you can stay awake, you'll get a great indoctrination into the proper format and timing of your calls.

3. Progressively increase your capacity by moving to a tower frequency and listening to the comm--my recommendation would be to start with a "less busy" field, as more complicated airports (e.g. most fields with significant airline traffic) may be overwhelming and more difficult to understand at first.

4. Don't forget to listen to approach control, but their transmissions are a bit more difficult to receive, given the distance to their transmission antennas.

You could also receive all of these transmissions over the internet; I'm sure someone will pipe up with the "how" to make that work.

 

[Salukipilot4590]

Oh man, I remember having the same feelings man! I was scared to death of the radios when I was doing my primary training back in California. It also didnt help that I learned to fly at Long Beach airport! Anyway, I think the best way to improve your radio 'skillz' would be to talk out the procedures when you arent flying, i.e. in the car on the way to denny's. The only way to get better is to practice!

Good luck with your flying man!

 

[Joshrk22]

Do you have Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004, 2002, 2000, 98, Fly I, or II? If you do, there is a organization that is like a "virtual environment." It's called VATSIM, there is real pilots, real ATC, real procedures; it's the most realistic thing out there when it comes to working with ATC. If you need help setting up, PM, all of its free too! Also check out the book "Say Again, Please" its a guide to radio communications, very helpful. It will put you in every scenario, it's mostly for VFR though, but has a chapter on IFR procedures. The book also talks about the radio, how it works, tuning properly, basic stuff like that. You could also buy ATC-Radio Communications simulators, but the price tag is very large. Your best bet is go through VATSIM, it's the best out there, and I guarantee you will be hooked! Just remember 4 W's.
Who you are
What you are
Where you are
What you want
so it would be something like this...

"Flint Ground, Cessna 727PL, Cessna 172 at the GA ramp, VFR to Alpena with information Alpha"

or

"Dalton Traffic, Cessna 727PL departing runway 36, crosswind departure, Dalton"

Hope this helps.

 

[Joshrk22]

I had the same problem! Here are a few tips that helped me..

You could also receive all of these transmissions over the internet; I'm sure someone will pipe up with the "how" to make that work.

LiveATC

 

[WGP guy]

I've tried VATSIM but I can't seem to get everything working, plus I like free stuff .

 

[CaptainPablo]

use of november

also I kept forgetting that saying "november" was not needed.


just a note on use of "november"...down here in South Florida with all the international air traffic november is almost always used.....

my 2 cents

 

[Joshrk22]

I've tried VATSIM but I can't seem to get everything working, plus I like free stuff .

Catch me on AIM sometime at 'Joshrk22' (I'm on now). Or send me a PM, I will help ya get set-up. It's not too hard now with the new pilot clients they have out now.

 

[WGP guy]

Catch me on AIM sometime at 'Joshrk22' (I'm on now). Or send me a PM, I will help ya get set-up. It's not too hard now with the new pilot clients they have out now.

Will do later tonight, maybe you'll be on.

 

[Joshrk22]

I'm gonna be gone till about 10 EST tonight, will be home after that.

 

[ORFflyer]

Buy and read The Pilot's Radio Communications Handbook by Paul E. Illman, it is available from Amazon or your friendly local pilot shop. I found it to be very helpful back when I was a student pilot flying from a towered airport beneath a very busy TCA (soon to be changed to Class B). My instructor was very old-school, he insisted that I do all the radio work from day one. Now, after having taught a number of people to fly, I think that his approach was nuts, a student pilot has enough to deal with just taxiing or flying the airplane. Radio work can be introduced gradually and the student will probably learn a lot more by following the instructor's example of how to speak on the radio. But, just in case your instructor isn't providing a lot of guidance, this book covers, in a very interesting and effective way, the standard (ie AIM-approved) ways of using the radio. Good luck and don't worry, it does get easier with practice.

 

[Av8rPHX]

I think the best way to improve your radio 'skillz' would be to talk out the procedures when you arent flying, i.e. in the car on the way to denny's.

As dorky as this sounds, I did this when I was learning the radios, I'd have the scanner in my vehicle and i'd "pretend" i was the aircraft recieving the transmission and I'd say what I thought should be said. It helped listening to all freqs.. tower,clnc,appch,grnd.. to get an idea of what to say during the different phases of flight

 

[Dr Pokenhiemer]

We've all done the same thing and felt the same way. But, like everything else, the more you do it the easier it gets. Practice. Good luck.

 

[wrxpilot]

I agree with one of the other posters that "Say Again, Please" is a great book to own as a student pilot. It really helped me understand what needed to be said and why. It also breaks down all the typical radio communications you'll use for different airspace (B, C, D, E), FSS, etc. Made a world of difference for my radio "skillz"!

Also, practicing the phoenetic alphabet (Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, etc.) on license plates is a great way to learn it down cold (much better than just repeating the alphabet sequentially).

Finally, practice some radio calls and record yourself. I found that when I knew I was being recorded, it sort of re-created the tension of talking to ATC. Worked out great! During your solo cross countries and after you get your PPL, talk to ATC every chance you get. Too many PPL types are afraid to talk on the radio and therefore afraid to deal with Class B or C airspace.

 

[WGP guy]

I agree with one of the other posters that "Say Again, Please" is a great book to own as a student pilot. It really helped me understand what needed to be said and why. It also breaks down all the typical radio communications you'll use for different airspace (B, C, D, E), FSS, etc. Made a world of difference for my radio "skillz"!

Also, practicing the phoenetic alphabet (Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, etc.) on license plates is a great way to learn it down cold (much better than just repeating the alphabet sequentially).

Finally, practice some radio calls and record yourself. I found that when I knew I was being recorded, it sort of re-created the tension of talking to ATC. Worked out great! During your solo cross countries and after you get your PPL, talk to ATC every chance you get. Too many PPL types are afraid to talk on the radio and therefore afraid to deal with Class B or C airspace.

Heh, I've had the phonetic alphabet down for a few years now, I can't seem to say it in order like saying the alphabet, but I can spell using it. I plan on picking up a book to learn more. Also, recording myself also seems like a great idea, I'm listening to liveATC right now and seeing what I would say, but right now I'm listening to an air traffic controller yell at a pilot, quite entertaining.

 

[Fugawe]

Chair fly a bunch of flights from beginning to end. Simulate everything you're gonna do on a flight including actually saying the radio calls out loud to yourself.

You know basically what the other guys are gonna say to you, so respond accordingly, or make it up as you go. Use a sim program, text, or whatever you need -- but actually say the calls out loud. We've all done this kind of practice, or something similar.

Keep it simple, learn the basic calls so when you need them they come right out, then the new stuff will come easier.

Handling radio calls seems like small potatoes, but it builds your conficence when you sound professional on the radio, and makes everything else go smoother.

Fugawe

 

[av8rbama]

I remember reciting everything I should be saying on the radio on the 30 minute drive to the airport on the day of my solo. Great advice from everyone here, I did the license plate thing and listened to the scanner relentlessly (lived close enough to BHM to pick up clearance, ground, tower, and all the app freqs). I would catch a VFR on clearance and follow him all the way through and would pretend I was him.

I decided radio skills were critical when an instructor for a CAP checkout insisted on recording the entire flight and replaying parts of it for an hour after the flight. I decided then that I would do my best to never be criticized like that again.

As a survey pilot, the local app and center controllers know us by callsign and voice and being professional on the radio always works to the pilot's advantage.

 

[pgcfii2002]

Well, I'm a student pilot and today got to do some radio work. I was at a non-towered airport and my instructor decided it was time for me to work the radio, he tells me somewhat of what to say. I kept tripping up though, like I would forget to announce who I was talking to, I would forget to announce the turn to base or clear of runway, also I kept forgetting that saying "november" was not needed. What are some ways I can better better prepare myself for radio work?

Buy a scanner
Sit at home and think of all the phases of flight...ground, departure, approach, taxi and recite the types of calls and things you will need to say.

Remember:
Who you are
Where you are
What do you want to do

 

[navigator72]

hangar flying while you drive your car. On the way to a lesson or to the local coffee shop, pretend you are flying and practice the radio procedures from start to finish. Picture yourself riding in the airplane...... It's a bit freaky but it helped me back in the day (i was terrified of talking on the radio, but now I can't seem to stop talking)
It especially helps when you try to form an airfoil out of your left hand and try to fly your arm while driving. (everybody here has done it!)

 

[Ill Mitch]

Buy a scanner
Sit at home and think of all the phases of flight...ground, departure, approach, taxi and recite the types of calls and things you will need to say.

Remember:
Who you are
Where you are
What do you want to do

That is how I teach (taught) it. The only difference is, I put "Who you are talking to" on top (Ground, tower, etc).

The only other thing I can suggest is to make up cue cards with what you want to say (leaving things like positions blank). It seems to work well.