Listening in before transmitting

[Miraculix]

I admire the patience of controllers across Europe. If I had to constantly repeat myself because people don't listen in on the frequency, I would tell people to listen in before speaking.

My thing is, isn't it about time that something is done about it? A short slap over the fingers to the offender verbally and in the back of the transmit que with a, I'll call you later.

I'm not talking double transmissions, but a controller is giving an instruction and before the readback is given you hear: "Dumb-a** 123 FL360 inbound ITSUX". (BTW thats a real waypoint i Danish FIR)

[Tchocky]

That doesn't bother me nearly as much as a readback without a callsign.

Minor slapfight on the frequency the other day about this.

[terrain safe]

Both previous posters make excellent points that are so true. Please could pilots make the effort. The number of times you give a pilot their clearance and before they read back someone else just jumps in. Many double transmissions as well, not both starting at the same time, but one talking over another when the first is halfway through their transmission.

As for not using their callsign don't get me started!

[Tchocky]

The problem with stuff like this is that we skirt pretty close to a tricky delusion. It happens to pilots too.

Pilots get the idea that they're the only ones in the sky, and ATC think they're the only people with problems.

I understand the pressure to call in and get your transmissions made, and I hope pilots understand how frustrating it can be to have to do everything twice.

Getting bossy or notably ticked off doesn't really help anyone - I usually try and laugh it off and move on.

[ShyTorque]

The ones who dont listen out after transmitting are also very annoying. Often occurs because they have their receiver volume turned down too low, I suspect.

ATC reply, but don't get an answer. Everyone waits....ATC try again....Caller has a second attempt but still can't hear the answer (even though everyone else can)...ATC reply again....and so on. :rolleyes:

[Una Due Tfc]

Yes the readback without a callsign happens far more often in my experience.

Pilots: If I don't challenge you for not using your callsign and you make an error, or somebody else makes an error and the tapes are pulled, I would get roasted, and in all likelehood have my rating suspended.

[missy]

Had a Kiwi say "good on you", when I challenged them about their very sloppy read-back of a runway crossing clearance, and wanting to confirm their clearance, series of over-transmits.

I actually think the Callsign at the end of a read-back was a backward step. Often the first word is missing, which can be the critical word e.g. CROSS RWY NN MEDIUMJET 123 is RWY NN MEDIUMJET 123.

[EastofKoksy]

Everyone involved in the conversation is intelligent enough to appreciate the problems what they have done could cause.The main thing is that when mistakes are made by either ATCO or pilot they are corrected immediately and politely.

[zonoma]

Checking in over or after someone else's transmission a problem that has existed for years and is only worsening as air traffic increases and the busier spells become more frequent. Nothing anyone can do about it, it happens and is just part of the job. You can make an easy point of it by going back to the other pilot and reiterating the transmission with a few extra words such as "sorry ABC123, did you copy........" or "ABC123, someone has just stepped all over your reply, can you confirm........." and then if I know who it was checking in "DEF456 pass your message again". Point made without being rude or wasting too much more RTF.

As for not using a callsign, I'm a little more blunt about that :}

[dunandusted]

Ill respond to a no callsign read back with a blunt "who said that" transmission.

and "i can't tell who said that without a callsign, ABC123 was that you?," and the response won't correct themselves, it will be "Affirm"

But the most tiresome I think is the "confirm" at the end of read backs. Some airlines are woeful at this. The read back is usually perfect followed by "Confirm" and if you don't confirm it for them, they ask again and again and again followed by my response, "..if I don't correct you, that is confirmation that you have read back the clearance correctly, please don't waste my time by having me repeat myself."