RTFobia
"Trust Me"
Join Date: Sep 2000
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My instructor suggested I get an airband radio to listen to. Got me hooked plus I could listen to what NOT to do! However, did find it very useful.
I used to do all the radio work in my head before a flight -that seemed to help as well.
Also, don't be afraid to say, "Say again."
Even after ten years of flying, I didn't understand a peculiar instruction recently whilst backtracking and by the time I'd said 'Say again', a go around was instigated. The instruction, as I learnt, was 'Clear Echo.' If I'd heard 'Clear next right immediate', I may have understood. By the time I found 'Echo' on the chart it was far too late!! Oh well.....
I used to do all the radio work in my head before a flight -that seemed to help as well.
Also, don't be afraid to say, "Say again."
Even after ten years of flying, I didn't understand a peculiar instruction recently whilst backtracking and by the time I'd said 'Say again', a go around was instigated. The instruction, as I learnt, was 'Clear Echo.' If I'd heard 'Clear next right immediate', I may have understood. By the time I found 'Echo' on the chart it was far too late!! Oh well.....
Join Date: May 2000
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Another top-tip:
If you can record your RT, either through the a/c intercom or through an airband radio. Listen to it later and work out what you wanted to say. You'll be surprised to find your RT is better than you thought and it will allow you to iron out those little snags we all get from time to time.
Most professional pilots are good at RT because a) they do it regularly and b) they have a good idea what is coming next.
If all else fails squawk 7600
(only joking)
[ 04 October 2001: Message edited by: Fox-1 ]
If you can record your RT, either through the a/c intercom or through an airband radio. Listen to it later and work out what you wanted to say. You'll be surprised to find your RT is better than you thought and it will allow you to iron out those little snags we all get from time to time.
Most professional pilots are good at RT because a) they do it regularly and b) they have a good idea what is coming next.
If all else fails squawk 7600
(only joking)[ 04 October 2001: Message edited by: Fox-1 ]
The Original Whirly
Join Date: Feb 1999
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Fox-1, you're absolutely right in saying that knowing what is likely to be said is tremendously helpful. I found that out very recently.
I'm just back from doing the CPL(H) flying course down at Gloucester (not quite finished, but that's another story). The last nav ex I did involved finding two points in the Cotswolds identified only by grid references, going through both Lyneham and Brize MATZes (what's the plural of MATZ?), in a strongish wind and lowish cloudbase. So it was high workload and not a lot of time to think about what to say on the radio, especially in a R22 where you can't write anything down and you're juggling a half mil chart and two OS maps anyway. Well, it got worse than that. Lyneham and Brize were preparing for World War 3 I think, at any rate they didn't want a little R22 on a nav ex bumbling through their zones, and both routed me around, in a fashion which was highly complicated if you didn't know the area, for example: "remain south of some-town-or-other and east of junction 16". Help, where are they? I kept it together (I even found both destinations!), but I really struggled, and often had to ask the obviously overworked controllers to "Say again".
Well, afterwards (when I'd recovered!) my instructor pointed out that even though I didn't know what to expect, I knew what they were doing; they were routing me around the zone. So if they started off sending me east, next heading was likely to be approximately north-east, then north. So despite having to cope with the unexpected, some of it was predictable, which would ease the workload.
I'd thought I could cope with the radio, and I could, normally. But I learned something very useful about it that day.
Nevertheless, I hope I never have to do that again!
I'm just back from doing the CPL(H) flying course down at Gloucester (not quite finished, but that's another story). The last nav ex I did involved finding two points in the Cotswolds identified only by grid references, going through both Lyneham and Brize MATZes (what's the plural of MATZ?), in a strongish wind and lowish cloudbase. So it was high workload and not a lot of time to think about what to say on the radio, especially in a R22 where you can't write anything down and you're juggling a half mil chart and two OS maps anyway. Well, it got worse than that. Lyneham and Brize were preparing for World War 3 I think, at any rate they didn't want a little R22 on a nav ex bumbling through their zones, and both routed me around, in a fashion which was highly complicated if you didn't know the area, for example: "remain south of some-town-or-other and east of junction 16". Help, where are they? I kept it together (I even found both destinations!), but I really struggled, and often had to ask the obviously overworked controllers to "Say again".
Well, afterwards (when I'd recovered!) my instructor pointed out that even though I didn't know what to expect, I knew what they were doing; they were routing me around the zone. So if they started off sending me east, next heading was likely to be approximately north-east, then north. So despite having to cope with the unexpected, some of it was predictable, which would ease the workload.
I'd thought I could cope with the radio, and I could, normally. But I learned something very useful about it that day.
Nevertheless, I hope I never have to do that again!
Join Date: Apr 2001
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As all the others say ..."stick with it" it does become easier. I once was in a similar position, then one day it just became as natural as talking on the phone (well almost!).
Now when I speak I listen to myself, and after I have spoken I think "blimey - not bad, I sound like a pilot".
Good luck, and don't let it gey you down.
Now when I speak I listen to myself, and after I have spoken I think "blimey - not bad, I sound like a pilot".
Good luck, and don't let it gey you down.
Join Date: Aug 2001
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I have found that R/T fluency goes hand in hand with flying currency. The more you do, the less you have to think about it.
It is very easy to achieve brain overload when flying, particularly when converting to a new type, venturing into unfamiliar airspace, or dealing with unforeseen problems - and the first thing to go out of the window is usually the radio work!
I am by no means an oracle on this subject, but have a CPL/IR and regularly fly jets at relatively low-level around England and Wales and have adopted the following approach to R/T:
1. Know who you are going to talk to before you set out and have the frequencies written down in the order in which you expect to use them.
2. Always have the next expected frequency set on standby.
3. Use LARS as much as possible and ask for a radar information service - you will usually be passed from one agency to the next without having to re-introduce yourself every time you change frequencies.
4. Think about what the guy/gal on the ground needs to know in order to help you - Who are you? What are you? Where are you (and how high)? Where are you going? and What do you want from them?
Preparation really is the key, particularly when you are travelling fast, and will free up your brain capacity for the most important job of all - flying the aeroplane!
It is very easy to achieve brain overload when flying, particularly when converting to a new type, venturing into unfamiliar airspace, or dealing with unforeseen problems - and the first thing to go out of the window is usually the radio work!
I am by no means an oracle on this subject, but have a CPL/IR and regularly fly jets at relatively low-level around England and Wales and have adopted the following approach to R/T:
1. Know who you are going to talk to before you set out and have the frequencies written down in the order in which you expect to use them.
2. Always have the next expected frequency set on standby.
3. Use LARS as much as possible and ask for a radar information service - you will usually be passed from one agency to the next without having to re-introduce yourself every time you change frequencies.
4. Think about what the guy/gal on the ground needs to know in order to help you - Who are you? What are you? Where are you (and how high)? Where are you going? and What do you want from them?
Preparation really is the key, particularly when you are travelling fast, and will free up your brain capacity for the most important job of all - flying the aeroplane!
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Ashford, UK - currently at Bristol
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I'm still young,just started uni and I've only just got my PPL but i'm quite confident with RT.
When I was learning my instrcutor gave me a great tip which helped a lot especially with confidence. Whenever we'd go on cross countries etc... - just write on little post it notes the thnigs that you'd have to say to each airfield - when you'd say it etc... - therefore when you're up in the air you "read" the information to start with. After each transmission rip off the top post it note and there would be one beneath to read the next set of info.
As time goes by, you no longer need to read it just comes so naturally. I really enjoy the RT, speak confidently,calmly and it all seems to work. Don't know - us females are supposed to have better comms skills - maybe it's some instinct too????!!
It would help anyway if I can do RT cos I have a uni bursary to join RAF after uni at an Air Traffic Control Officer!
Keep practising anyway - whenever you're alone just plan through a route in your mind and think what you'd say to each airfield, whenever you have a spare bit of brain power to spare!
Good Luck (
)
When I was learning my instrcutor gave me a great tip which helped a lot especially with confidence. Whenever we'd go on cross countries etc... - just write on little post it notes the thnigs that you'd have to say to each airfield - when you'd say it etc... - therefore when you're up in the air you "read" the information to start with. After each transmission rip off the top post it note and there would be one beneath to read the next set of info.
As time goes by, you no longer need to read it just comes so naturally. I really enjoy the RT, speak confidently,calmly and it all seems to work. Don't know - us females are supposed to have better comms skills - maybe it's some instinct too????!!
It would help anyway if I can do RT cos I have a uni bursary to join RAF after uni at an Air Traffic Control Officer!
Keep practising anyway - whenever you're alone just plan through a route in your mind and think what you'd say to each airfield, whenever you have a spare bit of brain power to spare!
Good Luck (
)
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I too have a bit of a hang-up when it comes to RT...
But since moving to France at least I dont worry about making mistakes like I used to. At smaller airfields I obviously need to speak French, and local pilots sort of expect you to be bad at the lingo anyway, so getting it wrong doesnt bother me. When I speak to larger ATC units I can revert to English where they are usually getting it a little wrong, as its not their native language, and it takes the pressure off me no end!!
So the answer is to fly over to France!!
But since moving to France at least I dont worry about making mistakes like I used to. At smaller airfields I obviously need to speak French, and local pilots sort of expect you to be bad at the lingo anyway, so getting it wrong doesnt bother me. When I speak to larger ATC units I can revert to English where they are usually getting it a little wrong, as its not their native language, and it takes the pressure off me no end!!
So the answer is to fly over to France!!
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Join Date: Aug 2001
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Nice going, Whirly! Couldn't cope with them rotor things myself. One day the earth might stop repelling them..
Apruneuk: I've found that RT fluency and confidence go alongside flying currency only up to a point. That's the problem. You'd think that more hours = greater RT confidence. But it wasn't working like that, hence my rather desperate first post.
But.. a few recent experiences have taught me that, when I really NEED to make/get something clear, I can. And will. As in, "XXXXX radar, you gave me a 'QDM' of 050... That seems to be taking me in totally the wrong direction, unless I'm even loster than I thought. Request confirm: If I fly *in* that direction, I will be going *to* .. EGBF??" "G-BBBF, correction, you're quite right. We were giving you a QTE. Your QDM is..."
But that little moment of unease is as nothing to the further help I've had from other nice ATCOs. And to all of those (and you know who you are!): Many Thanks. The rest of you: I wish you could remember that we all have to start somewhere. And the learning curve doesn't have a handy QDM...
Apruneuk: I've found that RT fluency and confidence go alongside flying currency only up to a point. That's the problem. You'd think that more hours = greater RT confidence. But it wasn't working like that, hence my rather desperate first post.
But.. a few recent experiences have taught me that, when I really NEED to make/get something clear, I can. And will. As in, "XXXXX radar, you gave me a 'QDM' of 050... That seems to be taking me in totally the wrong direction, unless I'm even loster than I thought. Request confirm: If I fly *in* that direction, I will be going *to* .. EGBF??" "G-BBBF, correction, you're quite right. We were giving you a QTE. Your QDM is..."
But that little moment of unease is as nothing to the further help I've had from other nice ATCOs. And to all of those (and you know who you are!): Many Thanks. The rest of you: I wish you could remember that we all have to start somewhere. And the learning curve doesn't have a handy QDM...
Join Date: Jul 2001
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I too suffered from RT nerves and fear of getting it wrong but got through it by forcing myself to use it more and more. I still make occassional mistakes but just don't let it worry me. I used to ensure that I made use of the LARS service at Luton but now NATS has come the LARS has gone.
I have always found Cottesmore to be helpful and never be afraid to ask if you don't understand. You certainly will not be the first to ask for something to be repeated.
Stick with it, I am great believer that if you sound competent on the radio you can get places that others seemingly less confident won't and finally find a flying friend for whom you could do the radio will they fly, it does make it easier.
I have always found Cottesmore to be helpful and never be afraid to ask if you don't understand. You certainly will not be the first to ask for something to be repeated.
Stick with it, I am great believer that if you sound competent on the radio you can get places that others seemingly less confident won't and finally find a flying friend for whom you could do the radio will they fly, it does make it easier.
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I agree with the idea of getting an air band monitor and just listen. Sounds corny (and possibly illegal! ) but if you get a voice activated tape recorder, plug in and record an hours worth - play it in your car when driving. It gets you used to the pace and allows you to 'practice' to some extent.
Just an idea.
Another tip that I was given years ago is to slow your pace of speach and to lower the tone of your voice. With practice it becomes second nature and has a calming effect as well as making you sound more professional. If you sound it, you willl eventually feel it and become it.
[ 14 October 2001: Message edited by: Navig8r ]
) but if you get a voice activated tape recorder, plug in and record an hours worth - play it in your car when driving. It gets you used to the pace and allows you to 'practice' to some extent.Just an idea.
Another tip that I was given years ago is to slow your pace of speach and to lower the tone of your voice. With practice it becomes second nature and has a calming effect as well as making you sound more professional. If you sound it, you willl eventually feel it and become it.
[ 14 October 2001: Message edited by: Navig8r ]
