Tower to a/c on first contact (inbound) : 'ABC123 continue approach"
Tower to a/c taxing to hold, after being cleared to hold by ground: "ABC123 continue to the hold" !!!
When I used to work AMC, I would reply to initial calls with "ABC123, hello!" only. 50 per cent of pilots were happy with this, while the rest, obviously expecting something more, would reply with useless info like "we're ready for departure" or "established eight miles out" or whatever.
Oh, and while I'm at it, my pet peave: What in the world has happened to the concept of initial calls? Instead of the standard "Callsign, level" or "callsign, level passing, cleared level" I get presented with all sorts of useless info "inbound XYZ, out of airport ABC, executing SID whatever". I need your level passing to confirm the mode C readout (not allowed to use it for separation purposes otherwise), and I need your cleared level since the previous controllers might have made a mistake. Again I base my separation on your cleared level. So please, standard initial calls. If you then insist on tacking on extra info like a SID, so be it!
