* on many airports (eg Luton) the controller doesn't say "cleared ILS rwy XX", just "descend with the glide". Is this some special procedure? Sometimes we are only cleared for the localizer and have to ask for the glide...
There have been many threads throughout PPRUNE on this subject. The basic reason for this is to stop aircraft descending to their minima earlier than with the glidepath. The phraseology you should hear is one of the following
Taken from CAP 493 Manual of Air Traffic Services Part 1
"Turn left/right heading (three digits), report established on the localiser."
"Report established on the localiser, maintain (level)."
"Closing the localiser from the left/right; report established."
"Descend on the glidepath, QFE (pressure) [millibars]."
"Descend on the glidepath, QNH (pressure) [millibars], [elevation
(number) feet]."
"When established on the localiser, descend on the glidepath, QFE
(pressure) [millibars]/QNH (pressure) [millibars], [elevation (number)
feet]."
* ATIS says "report aircraft type on first contact" - first contact with which station?
When you listen to an airfields ATIS you should report what is requested on first contact with that airfield. For example you listen to "Farnborough Information" when transferred from London Control to Farnborough radar they will be expecting you to report your aircraft type.
* after T/O in many smaller airports we are asked "what services do you request"? - what are our choices? what else than full ATC service?
CAP 774: UK Flight Information Services | Publications | CAA
This is a link to the CAA's latest document about the services available to you outside of controlled airspace in the UK.
This is the most important thing to remember when operating to an airfield outside of controlled airspace in my opinion.
"Within Class F and G airspace, regardless of the service being provided, pilots are ultimately responsible for collision avoidance and terrain clearance, and they should consider service provision to be constrained by the unpredictable nature of this environment.
The Class F and G airspace environment is typified by the following:
• It is not mandatory for a pilot to be in receipt of an ATS; this generates an unknown traffic environment;
• Controller/FISO workload cannot be predicted;
• Pilots may make sudden manoeuvres, even when in receipt of an ATS. "
Others have covered the PAR/SRA's please be prepared for an SRA into Farnborough this summer once preparations for the airshow begin as there will be no ILS for nearly a month.
I hope this is of some use
SH