question on identification
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2007
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From: roma
question on identification
Dear all
I am writing here to ask you a question about identification.
I am not a controller (nor a pilot). I am just a student with a real curiosity (and some passion) for ATC.
I would like to know if it is pertinent to use the term "identification" of an aircraft in tower environment.
I have been told that, at least for the tower, this term is not adequate, as there are no standardized procedures for identification (as for example the squawk ident).
Do you agree with this?
If so, what is the correct definition?
Something like “knowing who is who”, or something else?
Thank you in advance
(and forgive my ignorance!!)
Cheers
Elisa
I am writing here to ask you a question about identification.
I am not a controller (nor a pilot). I am just a student with a real curiosity (and some passion) for ATC.
I would like to know if it is pertinent to use the term "identification" of an aircraft in tower environment.
I have been told that, at least for the tower, this term is not adequate, as there are no standardized procedures for identification (as for example the squawk ident).
Do you agree with this?
If so, what is the correct definition?
Something like “knowing who is who”, or something else?
Thank you in advance
(and forgive my ignorance!!)
Cheers
Elisa
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 359
Likes: 0
Just like identification using radar, one can use a pilot position report for identification.
For example, a pilot says "ABC123 on stand 1".
When the controller looks and sees an aircraft on stand 1, he can rightly identify that aircraft as ABC123.
For example, a pilot says "ABC123 on stand 1".
When the controller looks and sees an aircraft on stand 1, he can rightly identify that aircraft as ABC123.
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 4,432
Likes: 33
From: LHR/EGLL
At Heathrow we have a ground radar that, through use of aircraft transponders, enable us to display the callsigns as labels (exactly as a 'normal', air radar display). I forget the exact words in our manual now, but we can use this ground radar to identify aircraft providing the label appears in the same place the aircraft reports it is.
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,694
Likes: 15
From: Wellington,NZ
In NZ, (which is probably fairly typical) tower controllers are permitted to identify an aircraft on radar by correlating it to a pilot report reference a position displayed on the radar, by assigning a transponder code and seeing that code appear, by observing the "ident" feature, by observing a full datablock (flight details, or "correlated" to a flight plan), by reference to a distance/bearing of a navaid displayed on the radar map, and by visually correlating an aircrafts position with that displayed on radar.
The method we do not use that centre radar controllers can is visual observation of a turn on radar. That one isn't used much, these days, anyway.Almost everyone has a transponder.
There are other conditions with the use of these methods, but thats the basics.
The method we do not use that centre radar controllers can is visual observation of a turn on radar. That one isn't used much, these days, anyway.Almost everyone has a transponder.
There are other conditions with the use of these methods, but thats the basics.
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 175
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From: Karup, Denmark
Many different "Towers" out there! Is it mostly "big/fast aircraft" handed from Approach (and a radar display to help)? Or a flying school environment with lots of similar Cessnas, Pipers etc.? If in doubt you could ask one to "rock your wings". Never tried it - not even for fun. ("Rock the Tower etc....). Again with many similar aircraft at the end of the runway, you sometimes ask "number in sequence" (or similar). But you wouldn't use the word "identified". Just work your clever departure plan from that.
Joined: Dec 2006
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
Posts: 433
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From: Hamburg
According to PANS-ATM, Chapter 12, Section 12.3 the recommended phrase is "show landing lights". Aircraft can then acknowledge by
a) moving ailerons (or rudder);
b) rocking wings;
c) flashing landing lights.
"Move ailerons" or "rock wings" are not mentioned as phrases. I wonder why?
a) moving ailerons (or rudder);
b) rocking wings;
c) flashing landing lights.
"Move ailerons" or "rock wings" are not mentioned as phrases. I wonder why?
