Prefixing callsign with 'student'
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 228
Likes: 0
From: Bournemouth
Prefixing callsign with 'student'
First time posting in this forum I believe so, hello all 
As a PPL student, I was curious to find out what a Tower or Radar controller would do/say differently if I introduced myself on the frequency as 'student G-ABCD'.
I've never used it, although I may do when I go solo at Bournemouth just as an extra awareness on the RT.
Many thanks in advance,
Rich
As a PPL student, I was curious to find out what a Tower or Radar controller would do/say differently if I introduced myself on the frequency as 'student G-ABCD'.
I've never used it, although I may do when I go solo at Bournemouth just as an extra awareness on the RT.
Many thanks in advance,
Rich
Joined: Jun 2007
Aviation Qualifications: ATCO
Posts: 328
Likes: 0
From: Going deeper underground
No need to. We will recognise the wobble in your voice 
If it is your first solo, your instructor will be watching from the tower anyway. Mine was, but that was the RAF and a long time ago.
Once that hurdle is out of the way and you start going further afield on your own, it would be ok to give the tower at your destination a phone call before the sortie to give them a heads-up.
As an aside, ISTR RAF student pilots on IRTs using a 'Y' suffix to indicate their 'handle with care' status.
Welcome to ATC Issues.
If it is your first solo, your instructor will be watching from the tower anyway. Mine was, but that was the RAF and a long time ago.
Once that hurdle is out of the way and you start going further afield on your own, it would be ok to give the tower at your destination a phone call before the sortie to give them a heads-up.
As an aside, ISTR RAF student pilots on IRTs using a 'Y' suffix to indicate their 'handle with care' status.
Welcome to ATC Issues.
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 865
Likes: 1
From: Cheshire, California, Geneva, and Paris
I would also like to suggest that it would also make other pilots on the frequency aware of your status and make allowances for it eg: Not crowding you on final approach, expecting you to do the unexpected, etc.
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
From: EGLF
As a PPL student, I was curious to find out what a Tower or Radar controller would do/say differently if I introduced myself on the frequency as 'student G-ABCD'.
I've found on busy LARS days that it really helps, but to be honest, most the time students are very good - in fact better than some people flying around with a licence...
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Unknown
Student Pilots
On initial contact with an ATSU, student pilots, who do not yet hold a licence and are flying solo as part of their training, will prefix the aircraft callsign with “Student”. Once acknowledged it should normally not be necessary for student pilots to use the prefix in subsequent transmissions until making subsequent contact with another ATSU.
Student pilots may also re-iterate “Student” on the RTF if they feel they are being instructed to do something with which they are unfamiliar.
It should be noted that, although this prefix is primarily intended for use by ab initio students, the prefix will also be used in other circumstances where, for example, the holder of a valid licence is returning to flying after a significant absence and is undergoing renewal training.
ATS personnel shall acknowledge the initial call, as in the example above, using the “Student” prefix and should make due allowance for the limited experience and ability of student pilots in determining the pace and complexity of information and/or instructions delivered by RTF.
Taken from the manual of air traffic services, I'm sure your instructor will inform you prior to going solo but you should use the prefix.
On initial contact with an ATSU, student pilots, who do not yet hold a licence and are flying solo as part of their training, will prefix the aircraft callsign with “Student”. Once acknowledged it should normally not be necessary for student pilots to use the prefix in subsequent transmissions until making subsequent contact with another ATSU.
Student pilots may also re-iterate “Student” on the RTF if they feel they are being instructed to do something with which they are unfamiliar.
It should be noted that, although this prefix is primarily intended for use by ab initio students, the prefix will also be used in other circumstances where, for example, the holder of a valid licence is returning to flying after a significant absence and is undergoing renewal training.
ATS personnel shall acknowledge the initial call, as in the example above, using the “Student” prefix and should make due allowance for the limited experience and ability of student pilots in determining the pace and complexity of information and/or instructions delivered by RTF.
Taken from the manual of air traffic services, I'm sure your instructor will inform you prior to going solo but you should use the prefix.
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,814
Likes: 0
From: Euroland
the prefix will also be used in other circumstances where, for example, the holder of a valid licence is returning to flying after a significant absence and is undergoing renewal training.
Licence holders may be rusty however, the prefix student is not designed to warn people that the pilot may not be 100% capable of completing the flight safely.
It is designed to let ATC know that it is a student who lacks experience (not skill) and should not be given "unusual clearances" eg orbit on final which they may not have the experience to refuse.
If people other than solo students on the PPL / integrated course use the prefix then the benefits will be diluted.
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,160
Likes: 0
From: An ATC centre this side of the moon.
On initial contact with ATC use the callsign Student GABCD, all subsequent transmissions with that unit you can drop the student bit....a good idea and makes us ATC folk aware that you maybe a wee bit nervous and to slow things down and maybe not give you too much info in the one transmission.
I know a lot of the students flying out of Cumbernauld indeed use it whilst talking to myself at Scottish Info and it does indeed make me more aware and I therefore try to make life as easy as possible for the student involved
I know a lot of the students flying out of Cumbernauld indeed use it whilst talking to myself at Scottish Info and it does indeed make me more aware and I therefore try to make life as easy as possible for the student involved
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 121
Likes: 0
From: UK
When i hear student as a prefix, basically i would not expect/ ask them to do anything unusual/out of the ordinary. Being such a small airfield if something was needed that i was not sure if they had done before i would contact the instructor, check with them and then fully brief the student. Any sort of wobble in their voice or doubt in my mind then i just keep eveything standard. 99.99 times all the pilots in the circuit or joining/departing understand whats going on and make any adjustments as required.
DBB
DBB
