Bob Turner
Well-known member
- Joined
- Apr 4, 2018
- Messages
- 2,826
Been flying for 56 years - only in the last ten have I come to these tenets for good tower communication.
Avoid unnecessary words. "Request" is not a necessary word unless you have something complicated in mind. "Holding short of" are never necessary unless the controller utters them first, and then they become mandatory. "Over here at . . " - really?
I now teach - and this is new - each and every time you hear a runway in a clearance, repeat that exact runway number with your N- number. No, it is not yet required. Yes, it soon will be. Example: Champ 123, cleared for takeoff 28 Right, right downwind approved turn outside the Cherokee ahead." In the olden days, folks would say "rolling, right downwind outside the Cherokee." Still legal.
But with multiple parallel runways, foolish. Try this: "28 Right, Champ 123, wilco."
Why so short? Is anything important missing? Does this leave room for more important transmissions?
Never answer a standby unless a controller asks for additional info - example: Champ 123 you are number three for departure behind the King Air, standby." Your answer should be radio silence - not even a mike click. What we often hear is the N- number repeated twice, the words "holding short of", and all those other words that are not needed or desired by the controller.
Never, ever call a controller this way: "Memphis Center, Champ 123." Never! Tell them something about why you are calling them. Example: " Socal, Champ 123, two north of Montgomery, 3000 feet, going to Hemet. Can you watch?"
Don't make them pry it out of you. Initial callup to ground? Who you are, where you are, what you want to do, ATIS. Don't make them beg! Example: "Evening ground, Champ 123, taxiway Bravo with Zulu, taxi straight out." There are only two unnecessary words in that: "evening" and "with". Maybe you think the controller needs to be reminded where he works? Then call him "Memphis Ground". Chances are he/she already knows that. If there is any question about who is who, you still only need one word: "Evening Memphis, Champ 123, five southwest with Zulu, landing." That way the guys in Birmingham won't answer you.
There is more - I will save it until the outrage subsides.
Avoid unnecessary words. "Request" is not a necessary word unless you have something complicated in mind. "Holding short of" are never necessary unless the controller utters them first, and then they become mandatory. "Over here at . . " - really?
I now teach - and this is new - each and every time you hear a runway in a clearance, repeat that exact runway number with your N- number. No, it is not yet required. Yes, it soon will be. Example: Champ 123, cleared for takeoff 28 Right, right downwind approved turn outside the Cherokee ahead." In the olden days, folks would say "rolling, right downwind outside the Cherokee." Still legal.
But with multiple parallel runways, foolish. Try this: "28 Right, Champ 123, wilco."
Why so short? Is anything important missing? Does this leave room for more important transmissions?
Never answer a standby unless a controller asks for additional info - example: Champ 123 you are number three for departure behind the King Air, standby." Your answer should be radio silence - not even a mike click. What we often hear is the N- number repeated twice, the words "holding short of", and all those other words that are not needed or desired by the controller.
Never, ever call a controller this way: "Memphis Center, Champ 123." Never! Tell them something about why you are calling them. Example: " Socal, Champ 123, two north of Montgomery, 3000 feet, going to Hemet. Can you watch?"
Don't make them pry it out of you. Initial callup to ground? Who you are, where you are, what you want to do, ATIS. Don't make them beg! Example: "Evening ground, Champ 123, taxiway Bravo with Zulu, taxi straight out." There are only two unnecessary words in that: "evening" and "with". Maybe you think the controller needs to be reminded where he works? Then call him "Memphis Ground". Chances are he/she already knows that. If there is any question about who is who, you still only need one word: "Evening Memphis, Champ 123, five southwest with Zulu, landing." That way the guys in Birmingham won't answer you.
There is more - I will save it until the outrage subsides.