A question from an Air Traffic Controller:
Just out of interest, how many of you guys are aware of the speechless code procedure as detailed in
CAP413 chapter 8? Is it even part of the training syllabus for a PPL/CPL?
The reason I ask is this. Today whilst controlling I received a carrier wave only transmission. After a couple of "say again, carrier wave only" calls I instructed the aircraft to adopt the callsign "Speechless One" and use the speechless aircraft procedure. I then went into the standard list of yes/no questions. The first couple of questions are along the lines of "Do you require recovery to XXXX?" and "Do you have an emergency?". Both these questions were answered YES (one click). I also asked if he had a mobile phone on board, the answer was NO (two clicks).
Shortly after this, the pilot sorted out his switches and made voice contact. He said his passenger had inadvertently messed up his comms and confirmed that he did not have an emergency and was happy to continue en-route. He had believed in error that one click means NO and two clicks means YES.
No harm done, all good practice. Stand down the fire engines, medics, SAR, carry on working the other 8 aircraft on the frequency; then fill out the paperwork on my next break
An hour later the pilot of the aircraft phoned my unit to say that he thought it would be better if I'd had told him at the outset that one click means yes, two clicks means no, three clicks means say again, etc, etc.
There was me thinking he'd phoned to say thanks!
Is this level of ignorance the norm for most non professional pilots; or was this just a not particularly well briefed aviator?
Any input appreciated.
LXGB