westhawk wrote: "When you fly in airspace that demands very brief radio communications, finding a way to communicate essential information in the clearest and least time consuming manner sometimes takes precedence over strict adherence to full standard phraseology"
I understand your point and indeed it is a valid one. But flying in countries where english is not mother tongue, standard ICAO phraseology should be used. Have you ever tried flying in Spain?
Barcelona Ctrl: "Ryanair 123..muy buenas, descend flightlevel 70, transition level 70, QNH 1000, heading 070, direct GIR."
Ryanair: " Confirm descend FLIGHTLEVEL 70, and confirm DIRECT GIR"
Barcelona: " Ryanaaair...uh..If you like...uhhh, direct GIR."
The trouble starts when either the sender or the recipient is not familiar with the phraseology applied in the message. If a United flight is reporting "...descending ta twentyfour.." this may be ok in the U.S. however try that in Spain and the controller will for sure not understand.
Not to mention Italy...they wouldn't even respond. Lots of times I have found myself in a situation where I know the controller can hear me, but he/she just doesn't feel like responding because he probably feels the situation is "under control". It's simply weird.
Another one..Ctrl: "Speedbird 321, traffic 1 o'clock, 8 miles, same level, descending. Report him in sight."
Speedbird: " Roger, uh...stand by... we don't have him in sight yet. Looking out uh..., and uh..will report when visual with traffic.."
How about " Roger, wilco."
Nobody speaks ICAO english, but I try to adhere to the standards as much as possible. And if most people used it everyday, our jobs would have been so much easier.