COmmunicating with ground, tower and ATC

I

ilove747s

New Member
So I'm working on my PPL right now and I have just 6.6 hours under my belt but I'm really concerned about learning what to say to the ground, tower and atc....etc.... using the right verbage, words and slang.

How can I make myself more comfortable with this and what resources are available to help me?

Any advise appreciated!
 
you could try to listen to real atc.

liveatc.net but practice, practice, practice is the only way you will get it.
 
2 on liveatc.


Just know what you want to say before you key the mic.

ALSO, if you're using both radios... make sure you don't just tune it in and flip it to active without switching radios first!!!!

I screw that up about once a month.
 
frog_flyer said:
ALSO, if you're using both radios... make sure you don't just tune it in and flip it to active without switching radios first!!!!

I screw that up about once a month.
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And for God's sake, make sure that you aren't still on the PA after an announcement. Not that I've ever done that. D'OH!
 
Just practice and listen. That is really about the best thing to do. Also refer to the AIM and there are some Advisory Circulars that address this as well.

Like Baronman said though, Who, where and what do you want pretty much covers things.
 
Question: are little courtesies accepted or frowned upon...like, "Good morning center, Cessna 123 x-ray ten miles east of UBEELOST..."

I've heard it both ways - with and without polite salutations, but have never figured out when or what was appropriate. Seems to be at the whim of the controller....
 
killbilly said:
Question: are little courtesies accepted or frowned upon...like, "Good morning center, Cessna 123 x-ray ten miles east of UBEELOST..."

I've heard it both ways - with and without polite salutations, but have never figured out when or what was appropriate. Seems to be at the whim of the controller....
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I will usually include a "good morning/evening", except when in busy airspace.
 
in addition to what was mentioned...

Write out each communication scenario out.. ... had a ground instructor who did this.

Talk to yourself in the shower... request to taxi out of your driveway in the morning... request flight following to work... etc... crazy idea.. but it helps…


Communication was one of my biggest fears being at a towered airport next to a class B when I first started... even though I still slip up occasionally it's all about repetition and practice ..
 
I used to have my students walk around an imaginary runway/ramp area and talk to me like I was ATC or just CTAF. It seemed to help my students improve their radio work. It was just really basic stuff, but it may be an idea that works for you.

I combined it with how they were going to configure the aircraft and really help with pattern work as well.
 
killbilly said:
Question: are little courtesies accepted or frowned upon...like, "Good morning center, Cessna 123 x-ray ten miles east of UBEELOST..."

I've heard it both ways - with and without polite salutations, but have never figured out when or what was appropriate. Seems to be at the whim of the controller....
Click to expand...

If it is busy, I try to rattle off what I need to say as fast as humanly possible, but still ensuring I am clear and not slurring.

If it is quiet, I try to throw in some P's and Thankyou's. I have had whole conversations with some controllers on quiet nights. Only if they initiate it of course. Was flying over our two lakes on FF with Gray APP one night and they kept asking me to describe all the flooding levels, go by their house and see how close the water is, and then started chatting about weather history on the area.

An example of a quick FF request when ATC is busy

Gray Approach Skyhawk 2465 Echo
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2465 Echo Go ahead
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2465 Echo Cessna 172 2 miles south of Temple. One thousand eight hundred for five thousand five hundred. Direct September Echo Poppa. Flight Following
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After speaking with a controller, I learned that saying "Direct Stephenville" does not help as much. Give them the identifier right off the bat so they don't have to look it up.

Skyhawk 65 Echo Squawk 5375 and Ident. Bring me back some ribs
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If it is quiet, I'll throw in a "Wassup!, or good evening" and a "Request Flight Following Please". If it is REALLY busy, I won't even correctly annuniciate the alt....just "eighteen hundred for fifty five hundred."

I think the two things that are most common:
1) Missing a radio call, causing the controller to have to call you again.
2) As said before, getting a handoff, changing the number, but never changing the radio. "Uhh 2465E..still on Austin App..call Gray App on 120.07". I have heard airliners do it too though.

If you are new at all this, and find yourself "uhhhing" your way through a request, even after thinking about what you were gonna say...Physically write down the request and read off it. I did that at first with FF requests. Also, try to evaluate your calls after...Did you say unnecessary words like "OK"? How could you shorten the time even more but still ensure your call's intentions are clear?
 
Here's an article I wrote while instructing about basic ATC communication... hope it helps. I'd usually give this to a student on the first day along with an hour of "tower talk" copied onto a CD or in .MP3 format.

I'd just copy and paste it here but it's 12 pp long. Easy to read and I got tons of compliments on it - including the local tower manager back then.

You can D/L it here:

http://www.praser.com/CaptMidnight.pdf

Feel free to give it out to whomever or use it for instruction. (any instructors out there... please grab it and use it if you think it is useful as a tool)

I watermarked the living *blank* out of it. (:sarcasm: and yes, it was hard typing with only one hand as the other one was too busy patting myself on the back.:sarcasm:)
 
I'd say think about what you want to say and what you expect the response to be BEFORE you click that transmit button.

If you know what you want to tell them, then all you have to do is say it.
 
tonyw said:
I'd say think about what you want to say and what you expect the response to be BEFORE you click that transmit button.

If you know what you want to tell them, then all you have to do is say it.
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Good advice. Normal calls from ATC are very predictable, once you understand them. If you know what they will say before they say it, it makes it easier to respond (obviously this is not always the case). For instance, when you are already holding short of the runway for landing traffic at a towered airport, and nobody else is on base or final, after the traffic lands you can pretty much expect to either be told "Position and hold, runway XX" or "Clear for takeoff, runway XX" with a takeoff clearance most likely including your next move--runway heading, remain in left closed traffic, etc. Once you deal with ATC more and more, you start to see the patterns, to learn the scripts.
 
Cptnchia said:
And for God's sake, make sure that you aren't still on the PA after an announcement. Not that I've ever done that. D'OH!
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'kennedy app. Delta 851 heavy, 340 for 240, ohh and umm, ladies and gentlemen, we are starting our descent to our destination' lol
 
How about reading the recommendations and examples in the AIM and trying to stick as closely to that as possible?
 
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