Do ATCO’s self assess their R/T performance ?
Thread Starter
Do ATCO’s self assess their R/T performance ?
After many thousands of hours monitoring ATC frequencies as a ‘bystander’ and even a couple hundreds of hours in the air long time ago, I wonder if many ATCO every now and then, record the transmissions on the frequency they’ve been handling for later self-evaluation. And do pilots give sometimes (off-frequency) friendly advice on how to improve the ATCO’s RT performance.
Let me clarify by 2 actual examples where self-assessment of RT comms could improve their overall RT performance :
1) An ATCO of a small regional airport, who is known personally by almost every pilot in the area, is such a calm speaker, that his voice could calm down a pilot even after failure of engine #1 in a C-172. But by being so relaxed, his RT transmissions, after the actual ‘to the point’ instructions/clearances, are regularly followed by one or more seconds of vocal silence, continuing the rest of the RT often proposing the pilot other, better alternatives options. And this vocal silence in the middle of the ATCO’s transmissions, causes many pilots to start their readbacks too early, resulting most of the time in the ATCO missing part or all of the readback.
2) In the age of the mobile phone, it seems that many (of the younger??) ATCOs nowadays have the mobile in their pocket. And as probably many of you have already noticed, mobile phones close to radio’s, telephones and even clock radio’s tend to interfere every now and then with their digital transmissions (dididi – dididi sounds). And that’s exactly what I hear on occasions, that the ATCO’s transmissions is partly suppressed by the digital interference of the mobile phone. Recently a take of clearance “callsign WIND 120 DEGREES 7 KNOTS RUNWAY 11 CLEARED FOR TAKE OFF” was almost completely unreadable by the digital sound upto the ..EARED FOR TAKE OFF, causing the lined-up pilot to request a say-again
As I remember from my personal ‘airborne’ time, the person transmitting is unaware of bad mike quality, background noise, bad mike handling techniques, etc. So listening to ones recorded RT activities is often very ‘revealing’.
Let me clarify by 2 actual examples where self-assessment of RT comms could improve their overall RT performance :
1) An ATCO of a small regional airport, who is known personally by almost every pilot in the area, is such a calm speaker, that his voice could calm down a pilot even after failure of engine #1 in a C-172. But by being so relaxed, his RT transmissions, after the actual ‘to the point’ instructions/clearances, are regularly followed by one or more seconds of vocal silence, continuing the rest of the RT often proposing the pilot other, better alternatives options. And this vocal silence in the middle of the ATCO’s transmissions, causes many pilots to start their readbacks too early, resulting most of the time in the ATCO missing part or all of the readback.
2) In the age of the mobile phone, it seems that many (of the younger??) ATCOs nowadays have the mobile in their pocket. And as probably many of you have already noticed, mobile phones close to radio’s, telephones and even clock radio’s tend to interfere every now and then with their digital transmissions (dididi – dididi sounds). And that’s exactly what I hear on occasions, that the ATCO’s transmissions is partly suppressed by the digital interference of the mobile phone. Recently a take of clearance “callsign WIND 120 DEGREES 7 KNOTS RUNWAY 11 CLEARED FOR TAKE OFF” was almost completely unreadable by the digital sound upto the ..EARED FOR TAKE OFF, causing the lined-up pilot to request a say-again
As I remember from my personal ‘airborne’ time, the person transmitting is unaware of bad mike quality, background noise, bad mike handling techniques, etc. So listening to ones recorded RT activities is often very ‘revealing’.
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Most air traffic units have a local competency scheme which is used to keep track of a controller's performance, including RT. The scheme is used to highlight the many good things that a controller might be doing, but also bring up anything that might be a little rusty. 
Thread Starter
Thanks TI..., Gonzo for the quick replies
TI... as you're a man of the trade, are there any policies about active mobile phones in the pocket? The cases I've mentionned are not from your country, it's on the other side of the channel... No, not the big country where ICAO level 4 english pronunciation is the major problem, it's the small country a bit more to the north...
Gonzo, fully agree that every professional (incl. the airborne ones) and even the self respecting hobbyist should be concerned about his/hers RT performance/technique. But on a per person basis, it's the ATCO who's the most active (important) voice on the freq. And ATCO's do comment on RT quality (mostly radio or mike quality) and once in a while a gentil but firm 'please call the tower after landing' is heard when things get out of hand...
TI... as you're a man of the trade, are there any policies about active mobile phones in the pocket? The cases I've mentionned are not from your country, it's on the other side of the channel... No, not the big country where ICAO level 4 english pronunciation is the major problem
, it's the small country a bit more to the north...Gonzo, fully agree that every professional (incl. the airborne ones) and even the self respecting hobbyist should be concerned about his/hers RT performance/technique. But on a per person basis, it's the ATCO who's the most active (important) voice on the freq. And ATCO's do comment on RT quality (mostly radio or mike quality) and once in a while a gentil but firm 'please call the tower after landing' is heard when things get out of hand...
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And do pilots give sometimes (off-frequency) friendly advice on how to improve the ATCO’s RT performance.
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Ive heard mobile interferance lots of time from the pilots side. Could be passenger mobiles still on in the cabin, or when on the ground the pilots personal or company mobiles. Of course no ATCO's would dare to ever have a mobile turned on in their pocket.
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I've only heard mobile 'durka durka durka' GSM tracking noises on frequency two or three times in my career, and it's pretty common for ATCOs where I work to have them on in their pockets.
I'd imagine it would depend on equipment and or shielding to a large extent.
I'd imagine it would depend on equipment and or shielding to a large extent.
Thread Starter
Scott wrote:
Heard them give it ON FREQUENCY and in an UNFRIENDLY way enough times!!!
Heard them give it ON FREQUENCY and in an UNFRIENDLY way enough times!!!
Well Scott, I probably live in a more friendly part of the world (or more ATCO fearing maybe ?). But in the past odd 40 years I've listened to a lot of RT and apart from the failing ATCO's mike or radio, no personal remarks ever heard about the ATCO's RT performance. Questioning some decisions, yes maybe, but even then very limited on RT itself, always discussed later on over the phone (so I never knew who won
). Only remeber 1 case about fifteen years ago, when an regional 1st officer complained -the unfriendly way- about the MET report given by the TWR (too much difference with actual cloud base - not even the ATCO's responsability!)ending in a strong discussion on RT followed by ATCO instructing pilot to come up to the tower (yes, small reginal airport). Apparantly, pilot ignored that request; half an hour later, on the outbound flight, at the start-up request from the same 1st officer, ATCO refused the clearance until pilot came to the tower 
. Shortly after, the captain intervened, pointing out that delaying a scheduled flight is seriuos business, ATCO came to its senses and captain continued doing the RT until handover to departue ATC. Rumours were that those two 'roosters', had a personal (girl-friend) issue
Thread Starter
Gonzo wrote:
I'd imagine it would depend on equipment and or shielding to a large extent.
I'd imagine it would depend on equipment and or shielding to a large extent.
Also the degree of mobile phone use makes a difference, I myself have a dozen or so text messages a month (keeping the phones transmisions to an absolute minimum - is also good for my brain's and b...s' temperature). My kids are addicted to an average of 1000 - 1500 txt messages a month... So maybe young ATCO's & pilots have also more active mobiles in their pocket
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Originally Posted by DIBO
Well Scott, I probably live in a more friendly part of the world (or more ATCO fearing maybe ?).
You can say that again!! Live up in Glasgow, think it must be standard for people up here to argue or else I wouldn't be such an arse
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<<And do pilots give sometimes (off-frequency) friendly advice on how to improve the ATCO’s RT performance.>>
Oh dear.... that brightened up my retirement no end, especially as I'm suffering from then dreaded 'flu!
When I was at LATCC the local examiners would be given copies of tapes of their "clients" for assessment and later discusson. Durinjg emergency training we would listen to tapes and learn from others' techniques. At larger, busy units standard R/T is essential but you only have to listen to smaller units to hear "lapses". One or two AFISOs I've heard think they're Space Cadets and gabble on the R/T, clipping phrases in the misguided belief that they sound smart. They don't; they sound like prats and I pity the poor PPLs who cop their nonsense.
Professional conduct is important, plus remembering to speak slower when things get hot.
Oh dear.... that brightened up my retirement no end, especially as I'm suffering from then dreaded 'flu!
When I was at LATCC the local examiners would be given copies of tapes of their "clients" for assessment and later discusson. Durinjg emergency training we would listen to tapes and learn from others' techniques. At larger, busy units standard R/T is essential but you only have to listen to smaller units to hear "lapses". One or two AFISOs I've heard think they're Space Cadets and gabble on the R/T, clipping phrases in the misguided belief that they sound smart. They don't; they sound like prats and I pity the poor PPLs who cop their nonsense.
Professional conduct is important, plus remembering to speak slower when things get hot.
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We check the R/T of our ATCOs at least once a year with R/T sampling. This is seperate from yearly competancy checks when R/T is monitored as part of an ATCOs overall performance. Then as a watch LCE, I will talk to watch members throughout the year if I feel their R/T in a particular situation is sub/non standard.
Thankfully, I've got a good watch who know their onions.
On the R/T sampling form, there is a section where I can critique the R/T performance of a pilot/airline if I feel I need to. This is then fed back from our unit management to the airline base captains or flying training organisations.
Thankfully, I've got a good watch who know their onions.
On the R/T sampling form, there is a section where I can critique the R/T performance of a pilot/airline if I feel I need to. This is then fed back from our unit management to the airline base captains or flying training organisations.
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Self-assessing R/T performance
Just a comment -
As a private pilot, (one-time RAF) I listen occasionally to EHAM Schiphol Amsterdam ATC.
Interesting and educational.
Very busy at peak times; professional, friendly and efficient; seem to have their own transmissions short-hand and phraseology, which works; and a sense of humour.
WS
As a private pilot, (one-time RAF) I listen occasionally to EHAM Schiphol Amsterdam ATC.
Interesting and educational.
Very busy at peak times; professional, friendly and efficient; seem to have their own transmissions short-hand and phraseology, which works; and a sense of humour.
WS
Last edited by White Shadow; 1st Jan 2009 at 10:32. Reason: Typing error
