PPL'rs life stories?

[priscilla]

I would say you'll feel if the frequency is busy or not.
Say minimum and controllers will ask what they need (depends if they have a radar or not, or if they have your flight plan or not)
I work in a french approach ...I hope you'll fly there
We like to have " XXXXX, Pa28, from Luton (ICAO code helps!) to your field, approx ground position, squawk, altitude" then we see you on our radar and that the most important for us.
Then we'll ask "what's your desired routing, when do you want to descent, do you like gladiators... and so on.."

[Spangly]

FlyingForFun - Excellent! I find most controllers' aircraft recce is appalling, but not surprising given that our bread and butter is mostly PA28s, AA5s and Cessna somethings. At least they admitted their mistake!

One of my favourites was unknown traffic called to someone. They came back, "Roger, is it a helicopter?".

[rodan]

Again, opinions vary on this. Some ATCOs say "Flight Information Service" unprompted and wait to be asked for an upgrade while others enquire "what service do you require?"

It's up to the pilot to request the service. If you don't request anything, you will get a FIS from me. Personally, I assume that if you want anything above the minimum, you will ask for it, whether I am busy or not. Even if we do sound busy, it doesn't hurt to ask for a RIS - we won't take offence, and will certainly accomodate it if possible

Can I make an extra special plea to pilots departing radar-equipped airfields to report their passing levels and the level they are climbing to on first call to Radar? It's so much quicker when they do, we just have to ask otherwise.

[Timothy]

Can I make an extra special plea to pilots departing radar-equipped airfields to report their passing levels

Gives me another opportunity to ask for clarification

How accurately do you want passing level? It always sounds silly to say "Passing 47 for 80" because, apart from anything else 47 doesn't "exist", only 45 and 50 do.

OTOH if you are using the passing level to veryfy Mode C, you must want it more accurate than the nearest 500'.

So, if my altimeter reads 4750 on 1013 what do you want me to say?

W

[flower]

WCollins ,
regarding Mode C we want you to tell us exactly what it says on the dial so
passing FL 47 for FL 80 is exactly what we want to hear.

[rollright129]

When passing from/to, should you use raw airfield name or ICAO code, e.g. Heathrow or EGLL? The latter obviously takes longer, but is it more helpful for the ATCO?

[WelshFlyer]

I'd say it depends on how busy the frequency is at the time - play it by ear.

Textbook wise it would be a case of "Echo - Golf - Lima - Lima" but again you could probably get away with using "EGLL"

WelshFlyer.

[Golf Charlie Charlie]

It's a matter of context, isn't it ? Most people have heard of Heathrow, world-wide ! However, if you're flying from Elstree (EGTR), for example, most people in the southern half of Britain have heard of this field, so just say "Elstree". On the European mainland, however, better to say "Echo Golf Tango Romeo". At least, that was my practice some years back.

[Chilli Monster]

Use the name, not the ICAO. You'll find most civil ATCO's convert automatically in their heads anyway and you'll only confuse a lot of the military ones .

[Barnaby the Bear]

For what it is worth. I would just stick with how the book tells you to do it. At the very least while you are learning.
At my unit there are times when I am very busy I must admit I prefer just a brief initial contact, and then when suitable I shall ask you to pass your message.
You can't be criticised if you are going by the book though.
And I wanted worry about being labled a PPL giving his life story. Professionals can be just as bad, if not worse!

[priscilla]

If you fly abroad, definitely use ICAO ! it's not so long...and it's shorter for us to write...and we surely understand better..
good flights !