“Literally Ready”. Of course. R/T should follow the zeitgeist.

It’s always been my understanding that this was triggered by the Tenerife disaster. Recommendation 3 from the final report:

‘3.3. Avoidance of the word “TAKE OFF” in the ATC clearance and adequate time separation between the ATC clearance and the TAKE OFF clearance.’

http://www.project-tenerife.com/engels/PDF/Tenerife.pdf

Out of interest what aircraft/radio set up Rats?

I think it goes further in that the words "take-off" or "land(ing)" should not be used unless during the issue of a take-off and landing clearance, and the entire phrase "XXX Cleared to Land/for Take-off" must be heard . So phrases like "after take-off expect a right turn" are avoided. Which is why I can not understand why conflicting words like "Climb TO" are used when the "TO" can be confused for a number or such when clipped. Even phrases that mean well like "ABC Taxi A, B, C, Hold short of RWY 35" could be clipped so that the hold short gets confused for "cross rwy35" under the right circumstance, so there is no safety benefit in having said it. Yes, in a perfect world you would seek clarification if there was over-transmits, but in the real world people can assume when under the pump. It's better not to mention any runway until you are actively cleared to enter it or cross it, then it's clear you don't have clearance until such time you receive it. A better taxi procedure would be simply "ABC taxi via A, B, C, C holding point". Runway is assigned in the clearance so why say it again. And with all this talk, runway incursions still happen regularly, even at airline level, so the system is far from perfect.

On the other side of the ready call, why does ATC ask if we are ready immediate? If I have called ready then of course I am ready immediate. In addition if you want me to be ready to depart immediately, then don't wait until I have lined up and parked the brakes before clearing me for an immediate departure.

I agree, from a pilots perspective all take-offs should be performed without delay. ATC should be able to assume this will be the case unless notified otherwise. I think the problem has been that some pilots do seem to dither unless instructed to move it. Once you call ready it's says to the tower you have nothing left to do except line up and roll. If you need 10,20,30 seconds lined up or such for whatever reason the pilots need to say this when calling ready.

If only this was the case....

It's in MATS.

https://www.airservicesaustralia.com...s-saf-2000.pdf

Put it this way, ATC monitors the average time each airline takes to line up and roll, there are certain operators that are well known to be slow, and they will get the 'be ready immediate' more often than others. And its not to do with line up procedures as within the same airline on same types there can be significant variation.

Interesting how a firm grip of non essential trivia is how professionalism is judged these days. The job has become so easy that all reality is lost. Can't imagine anyone getting worked up over hearing "affirmative" on the radio.

...until it turns out that "affirmative" was not the word actually transmitted.

COMMS

Has anyone ( besides me ) ever had (usually after a long layoff or when flying to a country for the first time ) a really bad day on the radios ?

Or had problems reading back a rapid fire clearance somewhere ( USA !)when local accents /terminology abounds?

SUGGEST some clever person comes up with some simple reactive training recordings of ATC chat from ‘difficult’ parts of the globe which can be listened to at your leisure prior to departure and enable you to practice your patter.

Might save some major embarrassment (FS hazard) later?

That’s not a bad idea.
Generally I am OK with accents and can even cope with the fast talking Yanks, by writing the anticipated clearance down, then modifying it as necessary. I think that is how most visitors to the USA do it, at least until they have more familiarity.
But there was a female controller at Surat Thani in Thailand who had me totally defeated.
All I could do was read back the clearance I had written down beforehand and hope that it was correct, because there was no way I could pick up anything beyond our call sign and a few numbers.

I rest my case. Trivia rules. Time for a hobby.

You're overlooking the safety basis for the change in terminology from "affirmative" to "AY-firm".

It's not trivia. It's to reduce the scope for confusion about what was said and, therefore, what was meant.

Slight 'Drift'......

Many 'Moons ago' a particular 'lightie' was enroute Griffith to Hay, NSW, and was 'pushing' last light.
The SY FSO had tried 'tactfully' to ask the pilot to confirm his ETA.
Eventually, he turned around to face the FSCentre room, and in his best 'authoritive' (theatrical) voice, simply asked the pilot,

"ABC, are you able to make Hay while the sun shines"?

Brought the 'house' down it did.....and got the appropriate response from the pilot.

No 'confusion' there.........

Troo story.

Clear and standardised communication in a dynamic environment is hardly trivial. Even less trivial when you add those with poor English to the mix.
‘Flap’ versus ‘flaps’ is trivial. ‘Check’ versus ‘checked’ is trivial. Some airlines love that ****.
For a firm grip of the non essential there’s also plenty among certain examiners. An example: on an IPC the GA Examiner asked me what the difference was when identifying a TACAN versus a VOR. I knew he was after the timing interval, because he was a good 25 years my junior and thus was unlikely to have much Morse code, if any. But I was not about to give him the pleasure of the answer he wanted (he really wanted “I don’t know”).
A trivial question deserved a trivial answer, which was “the Morse sounds different, one is more squeaky than the other, and by the way can YOU read Morse at 10 words per minute? “ That shut him down.

I will send you a PM.

I was wondering if I had missed some change in FAA requirements but, no, I hadn't. Current on-line versions of "Pilot/Controller Glossary" and "Aeronautical Information Manual" both state that "affirmative" should be used.

I'm in favor of standardization but will continue to use the terminology required where I fly.

Perhaps if the USA adopted ICAO phraseology and enforced it, it would be a better place to fly, particularly for ESL pilots.
Has the US registered a difference with ICAO for this nonstandard phraseology?