Scott & Co...

The "Roger" only readback that I mentioned was explained to a group pf private pilots - some IFR, some VFR - and wasexpressed as a suitable readback to a verbally issued airways clearance for a "general aviation" flight. No ACARS there.

I remember when NATS put effort into developing useful things like PDCS. It was in place at LGW for trials which worked, it seemed, really well. The kit is still there, just seems like no pilots want to use it any more :( Maybe they've all been told it's not working any more :confused:

Ah well.........

When I recieve a clearance I don't intentionally record it incorrectly. I repeat it back fully expecting to be told "read back correct" Unfortunately from time to time I am corrected on something. Point being that even routine clearances can be hacked up. I suggest pilots always read back the clearance. I also recognize that controllers may not catch errors in the readback, but then again they might. I also recognize there is a finite number of clearances that can be read in a given period of time. That number of course would increase with a "roger" in lieu of a full readback. I have waited 10 minutes plus at LAX awaiting a clearance. That is the price for the additional level of safety a readback provides. Those mistakes will start to be caught by departure or center guys as we blow through an altitude that might have been caught by the CD controller