FRTOL question

[vw_nutter]

Hi

I'm not far away from taking my FRTOL practical exam having now passed all my other exams. I was reading through Trevor Thom for a spot of revision, particularly using the correct phrasiology for crossing an airway. In the exam I used the confuser which states the correct order as:

"call-sign, type, position, heading, level, flight conditions together with the position, level and estimated time of crossing". This question also came up in the real RT exam and was the same as the confuser which I got correct.

However the Thom book states to use the following when crossing an airway:

"call-sign, type, departure point, destination, position, level, together with the position, level and estimated time of crossing".

I just want to make sure that I get things in the right order and more importantly use the correct phrasiology! Would it really matter all that much in the practical exam using one or another?

Thanks for any help!

[DX Wombat]

Forget what is in the book, look at CAP 413 for the definitive answer. It's a free download from the CAA website.

[DX Wombat]

Here you are, from CAP 413. The highlighting is mine.

Flights Crossing Airways
An aircraft requiring to cross an airway should make its request to the appropriate
ATSU.
Wrayton Control, G-ABCD, request
crossing of A1 at Wicken
G-ABCD, Wrayton Control, pass your
message
G-ABCD, T67 from Borton, 20 miles
north of Wicken heading 220 FL80
IMC request crossing clearance of
airway A1 at Wicken FL80 at 1033
G-ABCD, cleared to cross A1 at
Wicken, maintain FL80 whilst in
controlled airspace. Report entering
the airway
Cleared to cross A1 at Wicken
maintain FL80 in controlled airspace.

[Whopity]

Have a look at this document which lists the things you should have done prior to the FRTOL practical test. It does not mention crossing an airway!

[Talkdownman]

Originally Posted by DX Wombat

G-ABCD,
T67
from Borton,
20 miles north of Wicken
heading 220
FL80 IMC
request crossing clearance of airway A1 at Wicken FL80 at 1033

Adaptable for any situation, ie.

Who you are
What you are
Where from
Where to
Where you are
Where in space
What you Want, Where, When, Why...

Simples.

[NQWhy]

Not many ATCOs know what order the info should come in, and the only ones that do (like me !!) will be the FRTOL examiners!!

[Whopity]

In any case Airways crossing is NOT in the test!

[Gertrude the Wombat]

Not many ATCOs know what order the info should come in

I was vaguely under the impression that someone once told me that the information should be given by the pilot in the order in which the fields are laid out on the strip, so that the ATCO can write from left to right and doesn't have to dodge backwards and forwards. Was there any truth to this or is it urban myth?

[Whopity]

Yes, thats quite true. Some changes were made to the information passed to reduce the volume of information passed by the pilot but they still need to know Who you are; Where you are from and where you are going to land as these are written on the strip. If you then aren't heard again, they can find out from your point of departure more details about you, and they can check with your destination to see if you arrived!

[Talkdownman]

My post was based on just a little bit of experience writing free-calls on strips, making free-calls from the cockpit, and as an RTX...

Accordingly I do not agree with what NQ has written...

[2 sheds]

I heartily agree with DX Wombat. CAP413 is the only reference (in the UK, of course) and is so detailed with examples that it really makes most of the other books on the market (or the relevant sections of them) irrelevant. I would also say that, despite their air of apparent authority, one or two such publications are extremely inaccurate and/or misleading.

Having said that, there are still one or two little errors to be ironed out of 413!

2 s