Call signs at Uncontrolled Airports.

Mike Wise

Mike Wise

#NewSchool
I'd like to get an idea of what call signs the GA community uses at uncontrolled airports. Just curious, as I've recently had two CFI's who've taught me both different ways to handle this during radio communications, do you say "November Two Three Four" or "Yellow and white Cessna Skyhawk" Etc, what's your personal preference? Also if anyone can reference the big book on this, that would be great!

Thanks.
 
The AIM references aircraft type and callsign specifically.

So, "Saratoga 1-2-3-4," "Warrior 1-2-3-4," or for an airline "Delta 1234, Airbus A320"

A best practice (but not required) at the regionals is to call the airline colors you are painted in... so "Flagship 1234, CRJ-200 in Delta colors" would certainly be appropriate, but not required.
 
Mike Wise said:
I'd like to get an idea of what call signs the GA community uses at uncontrolled airports. Just curious, as I've recently had two CFI's who've taught me both different ways to handle this during radio communications, do you say "November Two Three Four" or "Yellow and white Cessna Skyhawk" Etc, what's your personal preference? Also if anyone can reference the big book on this, that would be great!

Thanks.
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Welcome to JC. Since ops listens to CTAF at most of our outstations, my call is usually "Silverwings XXX, Saab 340" as long as you're not the dick that adds "Saab 340 BEE PLUS" or "Beechcraft 1900 DEE AIRLINERRR" you're good!
 
XYZ traffic, Beech Duke, final, 25, XYZ

You know where I am, what runway I'm set up for, and how fast I'm making progress through the pattern. Nobody gives a crap what my tail number is. Especially when I cut them off in the pattern and they want to call the FAA on me...
 
Since there are no required radio communications, in a sense it doesn't matter. I generally use basic callsign - make and number. But at especially busy times, like fly-ins, I will use model and color. After all, the reason to self-announce is to give others an idea where and what to look for and, if they can read your numbers, they are too damn close!
 
TFaudree_ERAU said:
XYZ traffic, Beech Duke, final, 25, XYZ

You know where I am, what runway I'm set up for, and how fast I'm making progress through the pattern. Nobody gives a crap what my tail number is. Especially when I cut them off in the pattern and they want to call the FAA on me...
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It's the FCC, not the FAA.
 
Here's a story along these lines from my student pilot days. I was at an uncontrolled airport doing some night time touch-and-gos in a 152. I was on downwind, and I heard an incoming aircraft, "Waterski 1234" announce that they were inbound and were maybe 10 miles away doing a straight in landing. I had no idea what "Waterski" was, I thought it was some type of seaplane or something. So with him being 10 miles away, I figured I had plenty of time to go another touch-n-go before they got there. Seaplanes are slow, right? So I turned base, and then final, when my whole airplane lit up from the landing light which the guy behind me had just turned on. It was about then that I figured out that this other airplane was huge, and fast, and about to run over me on final. I went around and got the heck out of his way. I learned later that "Waterski" is the callsign for TransStates airlines.

Moral of the story: Airline pilots (and others) please announce what type of aircraft you are when approaching a non-towered field! The little guy in the 152 may not have any idea what to look for or how fast you're approaching if you only use the callsign.

I'll also note that most of the airliners I've heard over the years do, in fact, state their type aircraft in a situation like this. I don't think it is an epidemic.
 
It was fun to self-announce "Rough Rider" on the CTAF. People seemed to be sure it was either an F-22 or the Trojan Blimp.
 
staledog said:
Here's a story along these lines from my student pilot days. I was at an uncontrolled airport doing some night time touch-and-gos in a 152. I was on downwind, and I heard an incoming aircraft, "Waterski 1234" announce that they were inbound and were maybe 10 miles away doing a straight in landing. I had no idea what "Waterski" was, I thought it was some type of seaplane or something. So with him being 10 miles away, I figured I had plenty of time to go another touch-n-go before they got there. Seaplanes are slow, right? So I turned base, and then final, when my whole airplane lit up from the landing light which the guy behind me had just turned on. It was about then that I figured out that this other airplane was huge, and fast, and about to run over me on final. I went around and got the heck out of his way. I learned later that "Waterski" is the callsign for TransStates airlines.

Moral of the story: Airline pilots (and others) please announce what type of aircraft you are when approaching a non-towered field! The little guy in the 152 may not have any idea what to look for or how fast you're approaching if you only use the callsign.

I'll also note that most of the airliners I've heard over the years do, in fact, state their type aircraft in a situation like this. I don't think it is an epidemic.
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I don't recall where it was, but I operated somewhere uncontrolled this year in the 767. I made sure to announce aircraft type in each transmission, not only due to speed, but for wake.
 
TFaudree_ERAU said:
XYZ traffic, Beech Duke, final, 25, XYZ

You know where I am, what runway I'm set up for, and how fast I'm making progress through the pattern. Nobody gives a crap what my tail number is. Especially when I cut them off in the pattern and they want to call the FAA on me...
Click to expand...

Everybody knows a Duke can't fly.
 
I just say aircraft type and tail number as I was taught. It can become a mouthful though. I'd like to shorten the tail number.
 
I like it when people just use general categories or large type-groups.... Cessna 234, Twin 456, Helicopter 444, Learjet 567...beyond that I dont care. I remember the first time I heard Avanti 235... I'm like "what the hell is that? an experimental, a helicopter, a jet?"
 
PeanuckleCRJ said:
The AIM references aircraft type and callsign specifically.

So, "Saratoga 1-2-3-4," "Warrior 1-2-3-4," or for an airline "Delta 1234, Airbus A320"

A best practice (but not required) at the regionals is to call the airline colors you are painted in... so "Flagship 1234, CRJ-200 in Delta colors" would certainly be appropriate, but not required.
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"Tango Regional Jet, 2253X." ;-)

But seriously, I use type then callsign most of the time. When I was in the 1900, it'd be something like this, "Martex 123, a Beech 1900, 10 miles south of the ABC, in bound for 36."
 
Anytime Ive used a company call sign, I've always added the aircraft type after. But when using just the tail number it will be all one call ex. Citation 123AB
 
When I was in 99 I never specified 99 unless somebody else in the area keyed up. Otherwise, waste-o-time at zero dark thirty.
 
I don't think I've used a callsign or N number at an uncontrolled field in a few years. I was usually "blue and white Cessna 172" or "shiny regional jet." Not like they're gonna be able to see the numbers or care that I'm a Jetlink..
 
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