Practice Pan
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Practice Pan
Not sure if this is one more for the military, however...
As a bog standard PPL I do like to occasionally give 121.5 a call for a practice pan. Although I'm a good boy and listen out for genuine incidents in progress before opening my gob, I'm always a little wary about trying anything too taxing lest people think I'm taking the piss.
If there's any D&D people on here, what's deemed reasonable to ask during a practice pan? During my PPL training I was told you like to have a bit of a practice yourselves every now and again, so maybe I shouldn't be afraid to play around a bit eg be lost and not know a previous position, pretend my DI is bust and compass has gone out of alignment, simulate a broken transponder, generally act dumb etc etc - really silly stuff.
Cheers
BB.
As a bog standard PPL I do like to occasionally give 121.5 a call for a practice pan. Although I'm a good boy and listen out for genuine incidents in progress before opening my gob, I'm always a little wary about trying anything too taxing lest people think I'm taking the piss.
If there's any D&D people on here, what's deemed reasonable to ask during a practice pan? During my PPL training I was told you like to have a bit of a practice yourselves every now and again, so maybe I shouldn't be afraid to play around a bit eg be lost and not know a previous position, pretend my DI is bust and compass has gone out of alignment, simulate a broken transponder, generally act dumb etc etc - really silly stuff.
Cheers
BB.
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Bluebeard,
I am not mil, but I am guessing the sort of practices would be lost. I think the main idea of practice PANS with D&D, is to get used to talking to them. That way if you ever need to use them, you won't be nervous to call them.
I know its a mil answer you want, but just thought I would stick my paw in.
I am not mil, but I am guessing the sort of practices would be lost. I think the main idea of practice PANS with D&D, is to get used to talking to them. That way if you ever need to use them, you won't be nervous to call them.
I know its a mil answer you want, but just thought I would stick my paw in.
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When I lived, and taught, in the UK, I used to ask London Information (on the relevant FIS frequency) to check with the guys in D&D if they had the time and inclination to do a practice PAN, rather than go in 'cold' and hope nothing was already happening.
Often used to pre-arrange (on the R/T) with a local airfield for some sort of approach, ILS, Surveillance radar - whatever, before doing the practice PAN - and then get D&D to guide me to a handover to that airfield.
Was great training practice for the students and most certainly did get them through the nerves problem that Barnaby suggests.
A colleague instructor of mine used to tell "little white lies" to D&D - if he was North of Manchester (for example) he would say he was South - then get them to find him and guide him into BAe Warton for an SRA.
Excellent training.
Have heard a few growls from airline guys though - who are required to monitor 121.5 in their big silver birds (as we all are in our little silver birds). They have reported finding the practice PAN chatter on 121.5 as distracting.
Often used to pre-arrange (on the R/T) with a local airfield for some sort of approach, ILS, Surveillance radar - whatever, before doing the practice PAN - and then get D&D to guide me to a handover to that airfield.
Was great training practice for the students and most certainly did get them through the nerves problem that Barnaby suggests.
A colleague instructor of mine used to tell "little white lies" to D&D - if he was North of Manchester (for example) he would say he was South - then get them to find him and guide him into BAe Warton for an SRA.
Excellent training.
Have heard a few growls from airline guys though - who are required to monitor 121.5 in their big silver birds (as we all are in our little silver birds). They have reported finding the practice PAN chatter on 121.5 as distracting.
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Hey Bluebeard!
Practise makes perfect as far as we're concerned. It helps you and it helps us.
If anyone wants to do something other than practise lost then that's fine. Although that is the most common emergency declared, it's certainly not the only problem that you might encounter. We just ask that you bear a couple of things in mind:
1. The geographical limitations of the 121.5 system. Speech generally we'll hear, though we might not get any or much DF outside the coverage area.
2. Listen out before transmitting.
We are mindful of the kind of problems that Keygrip mentioned as were discussed on a similar thread some months ago. But we are established to provide facilities for real and practise emergencies and as I mentioned, practise makes perfect and hopefully may have a positive impact upon the incident figures.
If anyone has any questions for us or if your club or flying school wants to come and visit, just ring, our number is in all the docs.
Safe flying everyone!
Practise makes perfect as far as we're concerned. It helps you and it helps us.
If anyone wants to do something other than practise lost then that's fine. Although that is the most common emergency declared, it's certainly not the only problem that you might encounter. We just ask that you bear a couple of things in mind:
1. The geographical limitations of the 121.5 system. Speech generally we'll hear, though we might not get any or much DF outside the coverage area.
2. Listen out before transmitting.
We are mindful of the kind of problems that Keygrip mentioned as were discussed on a similar thread some months ago. But we are established to provide facilities for real and practise emergencies and as I mentioned, practise makes perfect and hopefully may have a positive impact upon the incident figures.
If anyone has any questions for us or if your club or flying school wants to come and visit, just ring, our number is in all the docs.
Safe flying everyone!
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I was told that I could avoid being too much hassle by:
1) Listening out for 30 seconds or so
2) Call XXXX123 requesting practise PAN.
That way you're unlikely to mess up a real emergency I think, opinions?
As for the commercial traffic, up there I listen to 121.5 all the time as well, and I've found out that using the volume button can help the distraction of a practise pan! Also I've learned that thesame volume button can subsequently negate the problem often found after the practise PAN, namely having 121.5 turned off. The volume button should be described in detail in your flight manual .
1) Listening out for 30 seconds or so
2) Call XXXX123 requesting practise PAN.
That way you're unlikely to mess up a real emergency I think, opinions?
As for the commercial traffic, up there I listen to 121.5 all the time as well, and I've found out that using the volume button can help the distraction of a practise pan! Also I've learned that thesame volume button can subsequently negate the problem often found after the practise PAN, namely having 121.5 turned off. The volume button should be described in detail in your flight manual
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Just remember several hundred airliners ALSO have to listen to it!!! In fact no, most of us will turn 121.5 off or down in volume so far it just can't be heard!!
It's so distracting when you have a busy London Controller, working hard competing with a practice pan in the other ear!!
I know it' nice for PPL's to practice, but given the requirement to monitor 121.5 for airliners, it compromises fight safety to do so when these 'practices' are ongoing!!!!
30W
It's so distracting when you have a busy London Controller, working hard competing with a practice pan in the other ear!!
I know it' nice for PPL's to practice, but given the requirement to monitor 121.5 for airliners, it compromises fight safety to do so when these 'practices' are ongoing!!!!
30W
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Like I said, 30W, I listen out on 121.5 whilst listening to thesame London controller at work too.
That clever volume control seems to do the trick for me..... Not even any need to turn it off, just down so far that you can hear when the practice pan is over, not what's actually said.
That clever volume control seems to do the trick for me....
. Not even any need to turn it off, just down so far that you can hear when the practice pan is over, not what's actually said.
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Am I imagining there being talk here a while back of a second VHF frequency for practice emergencies? Or is that just for UHF Guard?
This would presumably resolve the terrible problems touched on by 30W and Phoenix_x. Mind you, I would think pilots probably want to have a single freq (train as you fight etc).
Personally I routinely listen to lots of VHF/UHF Guard radios (professionally), and I don't think the amount of traffic is significant, though I can understand the odd call may come 'just at the wrong time' for someone expecting a clearance or some such.
I would caution aircraft captains against turning down Guard in UK airspace except in the most extreme circumstances - it may be the only thing saving you having 'company', especially if you miss-dial your route frequency
STH
This would presumably resolve the terrible problems touched on by 30W and Phoenix_x. Mind you, I would think pilots probably want to have a single freq (train as you fight etc).
Personally I routinely listen to lots of VHF/UHF Guard radios (professionally), and I don't think the amount of traffic is significant, though I can understand the odd call may come 'just at the wrong time' for someone expecting a clearance or some such.
I would caution aircraft captains against turning down Guard in UK airspace except in the most extreme circumstances - it may be the only thing saving you having 'company', especially if you miss-dial your route frequency
STH
