Why on earth do we not have the simple Unicom system like in the US?
"Littleham Traffic, this is Cessna November 24885, down wind for 24"
And then anybody else nearby responds, giving their positions and intentions. What could be simpler and safer than that?
That very system, albeit under a slightly different name, has existed in UK for about six or seven years.
(From Flyer Portal)
CAA unveils SAFETYCOM
First Posted: Tue 05 Oct 2004
November 11th sees start of SAFETYCOM
The CAA has unveiled the details long awaited SAFETYCOM which is intended to be similar to the widely used UNICOM in the USA.
Assigned the frequency 135.475 MHz SAFETYCOM can be used throughout the UK by aircraft operating in the vicinity of an aerodrome or landing site that does not have an air to ground frequency.
SAFETYCOM can only be used by aircraft at 2000 ft or less above aerodrome or location elevation or below 1000 ft above circuit height. It is restricted to 10 nm of the landing site and should normally be used only to broadcast the pilot’s intentions. There should be no response from the ground, except where the pilot of an aircraft on the ground also needs to transmit his intentions.
The CAA stress that it is not intended to be an air to air chat channel and is available to assist pilots to avoid potential collisions between arriving and departing aircraft.