Writing things down
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Writing things down
I recently flew with somebody who writes everything down. Even to the point that recently he had his pen ready as he was pulling off the high speed so he was ready to write down the taxi clearance while he was pilot flying. He is a very good pilot and I'm not criticizing him, but comparing him to myself who relies on short term memory for a lot of instructions.
The purpose of this is to analyze technique and identify any possible hazardous attitudes or techniques to improve safety.
I've flown with a lot of pilots and I would say 70% rely on short term memory for simple taxi clearances and vectors or altitudes. Some start off the day by writing down a simple taxi clearance then after a few hours are doing it by memory.
I think for myself I write down instructions that are not be used in the immediate future such as a departure clearance or an air reroute, for instructions that will be used in the immediate future I usually use short term memory and do not write it down.
Below are some examples:
Departure Clearance - Yes, EVERYBODY EVERYBODY should write this down!
Cleared for takeoff - Never seen anybody write this down
Turn Left 330, Descend 3000 - People usually don't write this down
Descent 3000, DPL4A arrival, proceed direct DPL - similar to last but longer?
Contact center 125.25 - I've seen some people write this down, I don't
Taxi 36L via Echo - usually I use memory and don't write it down.
Taxi W2,T,T3,Z parking spot 203 - Similar to last but longer - maybe should write it down?
What technique do you use?
The purpose of this is to analyze technique and identify any possible hazardous attitudes or techniques to improve safety.
I've flown with a lot of pilots and I would say 70% rely on short term memory for simple taxi clearances and vectors or altitudes. Some start off the day by writing down a simple taxi clearance then after a few hours are doing it by memory.
I think for myself I write down instructions that are not be used in the immediate future such as a departure clearance or an air reroute, for instructions that will be used in the immediate future I usually use short term memory and do not write it down.
Below are some examples:
Departure Clearance - Yes, EVERYBODY EVERYBODY should write this down!
Cleared for takeoff - Never seen anybody write this down
Turn Left 330, Descend 3000 - People usually don't write this down
Descent 3000, DPL4A arrival, proceed direct DPL - similar to last but longer?
Contact center 125.25 - I've seen some people write this down, I don't
Taxi 36L via Echo - usually I use memory and don't write it down.
Taxi W2,T,T3,Z parking spot 203 - Similar to last but longer - maybe should write it down?
What technique do you use?
Could it be for if something happens and the pilot and ATC get into an argument about what was the clearance was then the pilot has it written down?
Thats the reason I got taught to write things down when flying IFR.
Thats the reason I got taught to write things down when flying IFR.
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Air Traffic Controllers are trained to, and meticulous about, writing everything down. And what they write is retained for a long time for possible use in incident enquiries. It really surprised me when I discovered that pilots don't have some system for recording important instructions... System seems to work though.
Incidentally, if a pilot ever complains the correct R/T phraseology is: "Sorry, your mistake"!
Incidentally, if a pilot ever complains the correct R/T phraseology is: "Sorry, your mistake"!
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<<hardwired to the brain >>
Brain, M?? You had one but not me!!! I was just thinking if the bloke came off the runway and typed "greens" someone might think it was a shopping list!
Brain, M?? You had one but not me!!! I was just thinking if the bloke came off the runway and typed "greens" someone might think it was a shopping list!
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As a private pilot, when I'm unfamiliar with the area, I tend to write down lengthy taxiway instructions, and instructions to report at certain visual reporting points (ie. report when 5 miles east of Willow's Creek...).
Sometimes I write down radio frequency and squawk code changes as well.
Sometimes I write down radio frequency and squawk code changes as well.
More than just an ATCO
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Sometimes I write down radio frequency and squawk code changes as well
When I was stil flying - QNH, airways clearance, taxi instructions (at somewhere complicated or unknown), assigned HDG/Level, and Squawk/Freq. change. ATC has a shorthand, for those unblessed with a modern system, might be worth learning
Luvverley!
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OK,
From one complete side (as an ATCO) to the other half side (as a Pilot's Assisitant).
Yes, absolutely EVERYTHING is recorded on a FPS, complete with ticks when something is read back correctly, or as a record of having passed an airborne time to Radar.
From the P'sA side:
"Wow, that's neat..."
"Sssshhhhhhh!"
Read back everything.
"So, what's that symbol then?"
"We're cleared to join controlled airspace at such-a-level."
"Right."
"So what do YOU put?"
"Well, if I have time, a big "C."
"If you don't have time, then what?"
"Just remember it."
That's a single crew ops scenario.
From one complete side (as an ATCO) to the other half side (as a Pilot's Assisitant).
Yes, absolutely EVERYTHING is recorded on a FPS, complete with ticks when something is read back correctly, or as a record of having passed an airborne time to Radar.
From the P'sA side:
"Wow, that's neat..."
"Sssshhhhhhh!"
Read back everything.
"So, what's that symbol then?"
"We're cleared to join controlled airspace at such-a-level."
"Right."
"So what do YOU put?"
"Well, if I have time, a big "C."
"If you don't have time, then what?"
"Just remember it."
That's a single crew ops scenario.
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As an ATCO I write everything down...
...especially when it's my turn to make the tea! My lot can get a bit grumpy if you get it wrong
MM
...especially when it's my turn to make the tea! My lot can get a bit grumpy if you get it wrong
MM
Last edited by Monkey Madness; 26th May 2010 at 14:16.
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Heathrow Director
That was until our 'stripless' fairy came along, waved his magic Excel spreadsheet and 'phhhhwap' in a matter of seconds, our pens, pencils crayons and colouring in books were gone! 
Oh how I miss box 11...'or any other relevent information', and dammit I used to make it relevent!
Now ummmm if there was no box 11 that would also make sense....I never knew where anything was sposed to go anyway!!
Air Traffic Controllers are trained to, and meticulous about, writing everything down.
Oh how I miss box 11...'or any other relevent information', and dammit I used to make it relevent!
Now ummmm if there was no box 11 that would also make sense....I never knew where anything was sposed to go anyway!!
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Many of us type short notes in the CDU when on the fly, particularly taxi instructions. Nothing gets actually entered in the FMC, it just sits there in the scratch pad for reference until deleted.
