Callsign Only

[checklistcomplete]

What should be the call I make when told to "call director on 123.45 callsign only"

a) "director Ailine xxx"

or just


b) "Airline xxx"

I know MATS Pt1 says addressee and addresser in all calls but what does the controller really want ?

[pumuckl]

The answer would be (a) in my opinion, with the aerodrome as well, of course, so ie. "Heathrow director, airline xxx". That's what I would expect and want. Addressee and addresser.

[samotnik]

I know MATS Pt1 says addressee and addresser in all calls but what does the controller really want ?

It's all about omitting the "passing six thousand three hundred feet for four thousand feet, qnh 1001 hectopascals, speed two three eight reducing two two zero knots, proceeding direct XXX with information alpha on board, and, by the way, we are seven three seven four hundred" part. ;-)

[checklistcomplete]

Any more opinions please ? Especially from ATC people.

[ab154]

When flying into London City and being handed over to either director or tower with the callsign only instruction, you almost always hear both the station being addressed as well as the callsign.

[CEP]

Any more opinions please ? Especially from ATC people.

At our unit....."Director - Callsign"

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

I agree with CEP. Fact is the controller can see you on radar and he has other information in front of him. The procedure I never agreed with and never applied was "listen out on (freq)". That's bad.

[Request Orbit]

"Director, callsign" where I work please

[360BakTrak]

We use 'Director - Callsign'......nothing worse than a life-history call when you have 2 aircraft on base towards parallel runways needing closing headings! Although I'd estimate a good 30-40% of aircraft STILL feel the need to pass some snippet of info even when told callsign only! :}:ugh:

[vintage ATCO]

The procedure I never agreed with and never applied was "listen out on (freq)". That's bad.

It was 'Monitor <agency> on <freq?>' which I thought worked well in the right circumstances (e.g. Ground to Tower). However, I now see Monitor is only to be used when you want someone to listen to something (eg ATIS) and 'Standby' when you want them to listen out for a call 'BIGJET 347, standby for Kennington Tower 118.950'. Hmmm, not so keen.

[LlamaFarmer]

"Airport Director, Airline 12AB..."

Usually that is when being handed from one controller to another, who are actually sat next to each other sliding the paper strips across. (Or at least that's how it was until very recently in LTMA).

It's all about cutting out irrelevant unnecessary chatter in a busy sector of airspace. They already know who you are, where you are, where you're going, your altitude is verified etc, they can see you on radar, it's just establishing contact with them.

[Talkdownman]

It was 'Monitor <agency> on <freq?>' which I thought worked well in the right circumstances (e.g. Ground to Tower). However, I now see Monitor is only to be used when you want someone to listen to something (eg ATIS) and 'Standby' when you want them to listen out for a call 'BIGJET 347, standby for Kennington Tower 118.950'. Hmmm, not so keen.
Heathrow's unofficial 'Listen 118.5' used to work well...most of the time.

Annoying when the 'listener' starts talking instead of just simply listening, e.g. "Hello tower, Birdseed Shuttle One Tango, we're with you listening on one one eight five". "No you're not, you're talking [shut up]". Some crew members just haven't got any idea what is going on in the tower.

[checklistcomplete]

Thanks everyone " director callsign " it is then.

[Sonnendec]

That's right. "Unit-callsign" and nothing else, please.