Final 3 Greens - I don't have 'data' because unsuprisingly I don't keep a log of all the 121.5 chatter heard on a hazy summer weekend in the UK. But a call every 90 seconds or something in that order is true for certain periods on certain days. 4pm on a hazy Sunday afternoon would be likely. I offer nothing more than anecdotal observation.
People are starting to put it into pre take off briefs that Gaurd will be ignored or turned down on departure as it'll be chocca today. I do the same - its sound airmanship.
I fly light aircraft myself you know. I have about 18000hrs Group A (harking back I know Beags) and will have my own aircraft one of these days.
I've sent a goodly number of students into the skies on their early navexs and they've all been able to confidently use 121.5 so I've probably performed more training fixes and a practice pans than most of you.
I've also been grateful for D&D saving both me and several of my students from being horrible lost. I know that feeling.
Still, aviation is doubling every 15 years, the role of Guard has become more important and so perhaps it is time to look at how it has come to be used by all.
Cheers
WWW
Fuji - getting rid of practice pans without an FI would clean up the airwaves somewhat. Changing training fix to lost wouldn\'t but it would at least be:
a) Honest.
b) Indicative to the CAA of the need to improve training syllabus and maps.
c) Take no more airtime that a proper Lost call. Milliseconds anway.
d) More useful to the LOST person (if you can\'t point to me on the map where you ar then you are lost as there is no such thing as unsure of position) as D&D will have the correct take on the situation.
Any issues regards psychology of talking to D&D need to be addressed during training.
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Now, how about a debate about raising the minimum currency hours required to keep you license current? I don\'t think the present requirements are enough.
If you do less than 25hrs flying a year I don\'t think you should be allowed to keep you PPL - you\'re likely a danger to other sky users. Perhaps if you have over 500hrs TT this could be reduced but certainly not before.
Cheers
WWW