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RADIO CALLS!

Old 11th Jan 2012, 10:52
  #101 (permalink)  
 
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Oh so disappointed I only found this thread now! It is overdue, as it has been such a long time since the last one

Just as an aside, I believe it is not a requirement to make a departure call on the ctaf, as per the AIP. My company manual does stipulate though that a departure call should be made when turning contrary to the circuit direction and it actually includes the phrase "climbing to flight levels"

And let's face it, anyone who cares what flight level we are "climbing to" will hear it in the full departure report we make on the area frequency shortly after.
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Old 11th Jan 2012, 10:55
  #102 (permalink)  
 
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OMFG!!!

So according to this thread, the YMMB tower broke all the rules a few years back when I was the only one doing laps, by giving me score updates as part of Tx'ing #1 clear to land???

Seriously, being clear and concise missing part of the info is more professional than spitting it out as fast as possible 100% correct

At least when the guy whom is clear is understood and can be questioned for further info if needed........i.e ABC you needed to read that back to me in full, or OCTA, "BBB, what level are you at?" Or we just be a prig, "CCC why don't you read the AIP so your calls are correct

With the rate of change of the rules in this country, its a wonder anyone can get their R/T 100% correct all the time. The most able would have to be ATC as they are doing it all the time. Fair cop to the recreational (PPL/RAA/glider) who at least try to get it right, lest be pounded by some 'professional'

That in mind, it opens the box as to what % of time do you spend memorising the correct phrase so your R/T

Aviate, Navigate, communicate. (great in a crew environment with all the latest gadgets to tell you that you need to turn left) (might explain why the guy on page 5 wasn't so sure his landing was assured )
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Old 11th Jan 2012, 19:06
  #103 (permalink)  
 
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Aviate, Navigate, communicate. (great in a crew environment with all the latest gadgets to tell you that you need to turn left)
It's great in any environment, crew or not, C206 or A380.
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Old 11th Jan 2012, 21:46
  #104 (permalink)  
 
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Seriously, being clear and concise missing part of the info is more professional than spitting it out as fast as possible 100% correct
Ever been flying around SYD/BNE/MEL approach with many many aircraft in the airspace? You have to be clear yet efficient. You need to learn the call properly to avoid the following from happening:

At least when the guy whom is clear is understood and can be questioned for further info if needed........i.e ABC you needed to read that back to me in full, or OCTA, "BBB, what level are you at?" Or we just be a prig, "CCC why don't you read the AIP so your calls are correct
With the rate of change of the rules in this country, its a wonder anyone can get their R/T 100% correct all the time.
Most calls haven't changed in a long time. CTAF calls were amended in 2005, then a slight change as when to make them 18 months ago (but the format didn't change). Old mate in his 182 has had plenty of time and educational material to get it right and not come blasting through a major CTAF or CTA talking dribble.

Aviate, Navigate, communicate.
Yep, do it in that order, but do it all properly. jas24zzk, you hope to join Rex or someone similar one day. I'd hope by the time you get an aviation job and stop bashing car bodies around that you have realised the importance of being professional in every aspect of being a pilot, including radio calls. Everyone has their own style and there are moments of humour - don't think anyone is saying that should change. But learning what to say is just part of your job, whether you do it recreationally or for a living. Get it right early in your career and you'll be thankful later.
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Old 11th Jan 2012, 22:09
  #105 (permalink)  
 
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There is no mention of 'Left' or 'Leaving' in the Phraseology section.
That's right and you could use either depending on whether or not you have been cleared to descend.

If you were cleared to descend, you descend, but are waiting for someone else to finish their long-winded radio call, then you will have "left' your FL. If you are in fact leaving your FL, you would say you are "leaving." Pretty simple really.

They are not the same thing.
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Old 11th Jan 2012, 23:03
  #106 (permalink)  
 
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That's right and you could use either depending on whether or not you have been cleared to descend.

If you were cleared to descend, you descend, but are waiting for someone else to finish their long-winded radio call, then you will have "left' your FL. If you are in fact leaving your FL, you would say you are "leaving." Pretty simple really.
XXX

Pretty simple really ---- simply rubbish ---- with all due respect.
Can we please forget primary school grammar and stick with the very common sense ICAO and the rest of the world recommended usage:

LEFT ( or RIGHT) is a direction.
LEAVING --- when you are proceeding ( nearly said headed) up or down, the associated words being PASSING and MAINTAINING.

Pity there is nothing in the CASA training training syllabi or the AIP about the principles of good R/T, as apposed to a ridiculously (compared to Annex X, Vol 2) long list of "standard phrases".

Tootle pip!!
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Old 12th Jan 2012, 00:03
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Ah yes...gotta love the OZ aviation scene...



PG
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Old 12th Jan 2012, 00:15
  #108 (permalink)  
 
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With all due respect LS, what would you say if you left FL250 2 minutes ago if you were cleared prior....?

Doesn't happen every time as I said, but it's often very busy and impossible to get your call out. The standard phraseology would not suit in this instance.
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Old 12th Jan 2012, 03:06
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"On decent XX Passing FLXX".
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Old 12th Jan 2012, 05:21
  #110 (permalink)  
 
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Oh dear

All I'm seeing is a confirmation of my earlier claim re: compliance vs. productivity or performance.

Also I sometime operate a pressurised aircraft, VFR at flight levels below FL180. when you think no one is listening to craft, think again... it is a requirements for our company to listen to both CTR and CTAF FREQUENCIES when able.So when I'm on decent from FL150 to my CTAF at 25NM, chances can be that I'll conflict with outbound Metro traffic departing for a hop skip jump at FL120, on my decent.
There is a lot wrong with this paragraph, but the author is more concerned whether someone calls "Taxi's" instead of "Taxiing" instead of asking questions to his CP about airmanship and SOP's that enhance safety instead of detracting from safety.

IMHO, these are the questions you should be asking:

Why are you flying passenger carrying charters VFR? Why are you flying airwork/charter at flight levels VFR? If your company can afford to operate pressurised aircraft, they can afford the cost of flying IFR and all the extra protection that it provides both you and the passengers who've paid good money to fly from A to B.

Why does your company have a requirement to monitor en-route CTAF's if you're at flight levels? Please tell me how it is going to aid your Situational Awareness if you're flying above FL150 and listening to enroute CTAFs? I can't see any benefit. All I can see is distracting cockpit noise; 99% of which is irrelevant to you. And the 1% that may be relevant to you would be passed onto you if you were flying IFR!

Why are you at FL150 at 25Nm on descent to a CTAF? (Disclaimer: my only experience of pressurised aircraft is a Dash8 flying RPT. If people who fly aircraft like Cessna 421's/Conquests/King airs, etc, do this regularly then I withdraw the question). Does it make sense to fly a 6 degree glide path?
Wouldn't it be more fuel efficient to fly a shallower glide path?

These are the types of questions I'd be asking: i.e. Airmanship, SOP's that are conducive to safe flying, etc. Not some pet hates about how other people can't comply with the byzantine regs set out in the AIP.

(btw, thanks for the link. Just adds to what I'm saying about overly complicated and byzantine regs that we live with here in Oz.)

So when I'm on decent from FL150 to my CTAF at 25NM, chances can be that I'll conflict with outbound Metro traffic departing for a hop skip jump at FL120, on my decent.
As I said in my reply to you earlier, if you're on anything like a reciprocal heading you're going to be in conflict with the metro if it's climbing anywhere from 6000' to FL180. So if the Metro says "flight levels", who cares?

Are you NOT going to call the Metro and arrange separation?

Simple answer just say the FL on climb to. How hard is it!
A better question! Out of Devonport my intended FL is FL180 but I can't climb above FL125 without a clearance. I may not get the clearance to fly above FL125 until around 30Nm from Devonport. I may not get FL180 due the Rex out of Wynyard or the Q400 out of Launy asking for the same, or god knows who else out there flying on an oblique track. We may decide to fly higher or lower depending on the en-route winds.

So I can call "climbing FL180", but it could be a lie! I suppose I could call "climbing intended FL180" but people like you would peg me for non-standard-AIP r/t and there would be another prune thread about it.


It's just some handy tips and pointers for those who want to fine tune their calls to be be as close to correct as possible, with details on references for further reading.
In my experience when people write an email or post on a bulletin board they have in their head a train of thoughts behind what they wrote, as well as their own tone and stye of writing. Unfortunately the reader of the post or email has their own thoughts, tone, and style.

The result is that it's difficult to write something and have another person read and understand it in the same manner in which you intended it to be read and understood.

So you may well have intended your thread to be about "handy tips and pointers". But I read your first post and most of the rest of your posts in this thread as diatribes and rants.

Bloggs

Simple. Do it the proper way or do it Divosh's way.
Very droll! If only everything were so black and white and clear cut.

We had a flight going into YMAY a few years ago from Sydney. The FO made her inbound call to Albury tower but messed up the sequence of the call. Albury tower were pretty good about it, understood what she was trying to say, and gave her a clearance. The Captain made her say the entire call again iaw the AIP in spite of Albury tower giving her the clearance.

So who's clogging up the airwaves? The FO? Albury tower? No. The Captain who insisted on the FO making an entirely unnecessary second call to Albury tower because he wanted it done exactly as per the AIP.


DIVOSH!
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Old 12th Jan 2012, 06:43
  #111 (permalink)  
 
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DI Vosh. You have accused Bloggs as being black or white yet you are also guilty by stating this is compliance vs productivity. You can be compliant and productive, they are not mutually exclusive. If you say taxis instead of taxiing then you are being productive, however if you say taxiing then you are both productive and compliant.

As for the climbing to flight levels. Simply say the level you are climbing to, your flight planned level. If you want to change it then can do so with ATC and everybody knows what you are doing. I am at FL350 and you say flight levels, are you planning on climbing that high? Am I going have to make a radio call to see if we conflict? If you say your flight planned altitude then that covers everyone in between and excludes all else. Far more efficient and productive.

Somebody else mentioned the old "aviate, navigate, communicate" chestnut. "Communicate" being the third priority is not an excuse to be sloppy. We, as professionals, should be striving to get every aspect of our work correct.

I am amazed at some of the comments and attacks on this thread. A lot of you guys are getting upset at those pointing out the correct ways of doing things without any valid reasons to do it otherwise. Other than DI Vosh who has tried to justify not doing it correct, the rest are just name calling. If you can't be bothered doing it the way it is set out in the AIP then that's fine by me, just don't try and justify it by being anything other than lazy and ignorant.

PS ecovictim, it should actually be "ABC descending to FLXX", if not identified then you would add "leaving FLXX". "on climb" and "on descent" are non-standard and as such, do not exist in the AIP.
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Old 12th Jan 2012, 06:49
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I'll relax a little about radio calls when just one of you IFR pilots tells me why their taxy call is:

'Melbourne Centre, ABC taxy-ing IFR Wagga for Bankstown request traffic and code'

When the correct call is:

'Melbourne Centre, ABC, Chieftain, POB 6, IFR, Taxy-ing Wagga for Bankstown, Runway 23

Which one of you started the crap? If you don't get a code, squawk 2000, if you don't get a traffic statement and there is any, holiday time for the ATC.

This garbage has even made it's way into the RAAF. Why are you RAAF pilots adopting this garbage?

You may think that not using standard phraseology is ok, what's it matter? It matters particularly when it's busy and I have to go back and ask you what your departure runway is so the inbound traffic knows. The POB is there for a reason. If anything happens to you and a phase is declared the services need to know how many people they are looking for.

Things happen quickly at times (not all the time). When our sectors are on combine one person is managing 7 frequencies (sectors), they are on re-transmit but you are not necessarily hearing everyone else. You don't know at times how busy the ATC is.

I don't see why it is so difficult to look at AIP GEN page 3.4 - 48 para 5.14.4 for your taxy call when you are going to be doing it every day?
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Old 12th Jan 2012, 07:09
  #113 (permalink)  
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A question for ATCers, where do I put 'Med one' in my taxi call? I've tried at the start, finish and in the middle somewhere, always seems to get missed!

Maybe it's all the nights I am doing!
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Old 12th Jan 2012, 07:19
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'HH' add Med 1 anywhere you like in yr R/T, the excersize is to get the information out there not try to conform to some pedantic R/T proc that few seem to use as per the book anyway. Just 'cause it's written in the book doesn't mean it suits every situation.
I used to always add in extra small bits of info where necessary on my calls to make it plain English & understandable. One had to 'speak' to whomever is out there in R/T land as if they where the lowest common denominator of all pilots.


Wmk2
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Old 12th Jan 2012, 07:22
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I think most of us take pride in what we say on the Radio and mostly try to use correct phraseology HOWEVER if you misplace the occasional word or say "left" instead of "leaving" etc then by god it's no biggy, REALLY it's not.

As I said earlier it's all a matter of communication, does the other party understand what you are saying? If yes then

In Australia where we mostly speak good English to each other the occasional mistake/omission is easily fixed.

In places like India, China, Indonesia etc it is much more vital that standard calls are made because the locals will have no idea what you said AND probably won't confirm what you said, they'll most likely ignore it all together. THAT is a real safety problem.
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Old 12th Jan 2012, 07:54
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I agree Nitpicker (which is a colloquialism for being pedantic, oh the irony!). The occasional slip up is easily done and therefore excused. The issue is more focused towards not even knowing when one is slipping up. If you always say "left" instead of "leaving" because you don't know or care that it is incorrect, then re-education is required. Hence the purpose of this thread.

As Ranga said, standard phraseology serves a higher purpose that being a platform to nit pick. It is intended to reduce any confusion between parties.
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Old 12th Jan 2012, 08:05
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Yawn........really.

Yawn.


Leaving, Left........who gives a Rats really??????

If I was an ATCO and QFA134 reported "leaving FL350" I'd understand that to be he was no longer maintaining FL350 and was now descending.

If I was an ATCO and QFA134 reported "left FL350" I'd understand that to be he was no longer maintaining FL350 and was now descending.

AND a check of my zillion dollar Radar display would indeed confirm that the Altitude readout was no longer steady at FL350.

Mmmmmmm. Could be lots of confusion there !!
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Old 12th Jan 2012, 11:27
  #118 (permalink)  
 
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Maverick....long time no see!

Yes the number of dep calls by a jabiru in a CTAF like YCAB is amazing no wonder YRED has a separate freq now as they have the same problem.

Mr Ranga makes a very good point..... I try ever so hard to follow correctly the required format because seeing how you guys work the other end of the radio really opens your eyes
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Old 12th Jan 2012, 12:02
  #119 (permalink)  
 
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Hey jabba, I'll be out your way tomorrow flying one of those things without engines. Hopefully my ctaf calls will be up to scratch
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Old 12th Jan 2012, 12:21
  #120 (permalink)  
 
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No engines

Wally has a meltdown when you have just one....

Drop me a PM with when where and who, if I am free I might seek in hydration supplies in hangar fridge too.
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