Originally Posted by
thomsonpop
Hi All,
I could do with some practical advice, please.
Here's the scenario:
You've just changed frequency to an ATC unit to request a zone transit.
You give your callsign and state your request.
They respond "G-ABCD Squawk 1234 pass your message."
What do you do next?
1. Set the squawk then respond?
2. Respond "squawk 1234 G-ABCD" then set the squawk and then call them again with your message.
or
3. Try to set the squawk while passing your message and flying the aeroplane?
4. Pass your message then set the squawk once you've finished?
I am sure that when I was training for my PPL, ATC used to either ask you to pass your message OR give you a squawk and then call you back with your position and ask you to pass your message, not do it all in one call.
Thoughts please.
I think it is the controller who needs the practical advice, or, better still, some flying experience! This "G-ABCD Squawk 1234 pass your message" trend is not at all clever. If ATC insists on this untimely and clumsy practice, simply respond with "Standby", set the assigned SSR code, THEN pass your message. I agree with '
2 sheds', i.e. it would be better to invite you to pass your current flight plan details first, THEN consider whether and which code to assign. It is likely that code assignment is not appropriate UNTIL the controller knows the purpose of that message, e.g one may simply be calling for a radio check or a pressure setting, neither of which would need a code assignment, untimely or otherwise. (I taught my ATC students not to assign their easily identifiable unit squawks until they had good reason to do so, i.e. treat it like lending money...!)