Completely agree with that ident comment. Incredibly annoying. If any crews are reading this, don't push the ident button before being asked to do so. Technically, the aircraft can only be identified with the ident method when instructed to "squawk ident". From the book:
When using Mode A to identify aircraft, one of the following methods is to be
employed:
c) Observing an IDENT feature when it has been requested. Caution must be
exercised when employing this method because simultaneous requests for SPI
transmissions within the same area may result in misidentification. Aircraft
displaying the conspicuity code 7000 are not to be identified by this method."
Pedantic I know, but them's the rules!
Another one of my pet hates is aircraft that fail to readback a speed instruction properly, if at all. Speed is a mandatory readback. Full list from the book:
5.3.1 Pilots/drivers are required to read-back in full messages containing any of the
following items:
Taxi/towing instructions;
Level instructions;
Heading instructions;
Speed instructions;
Airways or route clearances;
Approach clearances;
Runway-in-use;
Clearance to enter, land on, take-off, backtrack, cross or hold short of any active
runway;
SSR operating instructions;
Altimeter settings;
VDF information;
Frequency changes;
Type of ATS;
Transition levels.
If you were instructed as a pilot to "Descend FL120", you wouldn't respond with "Roger", "Wilco", "Starting that descent now", "already descending" or some of the other rubbish we get, so why do it with a speed? Speed is just as important as anything else.
Food for thought anyway...