Joining Instructions or airfield information...

[Talkdownman]

Originally Posted by LH2

From a French pilot I know, flying into one of the London airports (!) a long time ago. According to her, her first and pretty much only call was:

"Allo!! La tour??? J'arrive!"

She reckons they didn't bother much with them radio calls back then.

If it had been her flying the Air France Dak F-BBBA she could well have been addresses by our infamous Heathrow ATCO 'Cockney Robbie' as "Three Cheers Alpha"...
HD will concur that things were much more relaxed in those days. He may be along with more stories...

[WorkingHard]

Is the standard o/head join and more importantly proper positional radio calls from all aircraft not taught anymore? Very recently I joined in this manner and reported downwind as usual only to have the first call from another aircraft reporting as "joining downwind". PLEASE learn to use the radio to report your position appropriately.

[Gertrude the Wombat]

"joining downwind"

What did that mean?

I would guess it to mean "I'm approaching the airfield, and I intend shortly to make a downwind join" followed in due course, when he gets there, by the usual "downwind" call.

Did he mean something different? - if so I can't guess what!

[WorkingHard]

With no idea of distance or time to "joining downwind" then situational awarenes is very limited. I prefer not to guess what is meant, clarity would be preferable.

[Gertrude the Wombat]

Yes indeed, "approaching from the south east, five miles to run, joining downwind" would have been significantly more helpful.