Calling Tower
 

Do all pilots have to carry a telephone on board or is this some sort of special frequency when an aircraft is instructed to call ATC?

Sorry for these what would seem silly questions, I just want to learn as much as possible about aviation!:cool:

Do you mean when they have been naughty and are told on frequency to call and get there slap on the wrists in private.;)

Generally they will call on the telephone, the number they can get from there handling company.

If pilots are asked to call ATC on the telephone, the expectation is that this will be done when the a/c lands and the flight is over.

However, some operators do give crews 'company' mobiles (useful for RT fail!).

Typically, I would telephone ATC from the office to book out the aircraft (i.e. warn them when I'm about to go, tell 'em where I'm going, how many on board, how much fuel etc).

When I get to the aircraft, I then talk to ATC via a VHF radio; firstly dialling up ATIS for the weather and then Tower for start, taxi and departure clearances. I will later be told to change frequency to Approach/Radar once outside the aerodrome zone.

So, telephone call first, then radio. Thankfully, I have never been asked to make a telephone call after a flight; that's usually bad!

I carry a mobile phone with me (switched off!) just in case there's an emergency. If I had to make a precautionary landing for example, ATC may not be able to pick up the radio signal as VHF works on line of sight. I wouldn't want them to worry about me unnecessarily.

Cheers

Whirls

Yeah I was meaning the bad boys number! :E

Thank you everyone :ok: