First MATZ pen since Skills Test
 

Hi folks..... is it just me, or do others get quietly complacent about R/T, content with pottering around the local airfield, happy with a familiar voice at the other end of the radio.

I took another more experienced PPL flying yesterday evening who wanted to do a little cross country trip. He planned it, I had to sit in the back seat for the tricky bits (Queen Bee, similar to Tiger Moth) and let him fly the rest of it!

We went Henlow, Rutland Water, Fenland, Henlow. Hmmmm..... Rutland Water, that'll be in Cottesmore/Wittering MATZ then! And I had the only PTT button in the back seat!

Luckily the controller was very patient with my weak radio strength (and skills I guess) and we had a very pleasant trip round a very beautiful part of the country. Thank you Mr Controller.

I must get out and explore more of the country and get more confident with the radio. Would anyone recommend the Oxford RT training packages???

My partner has a PPL too, and as sad as it may sound something that we have tried..... if you are going by road on a long journey, carry a half mil chart with you and do the radio calls along the route as if you were flying it! Makes for good practice...... or is that just mad?


TBK

Bee keeper - check you PM's

That reminds me. Does anyone have the Oxford RT CD? What is it like? PM me please... :)

First MATZ pen since Skills Test
 

1st. Oxford R/T CD generally very good.

2nd. The suggestion in the car is an excellent idea. Nothing beats practical experience though!

No one is perfect and don't be afraid of asking your local club for some help if you are unsure.

If your local club operates an Air Ground service see if they are looking for anyone to fill in, you can be an air ground operator on just you PPL RT licence and a bit of paper from the CAA which they send you FOR FREE!!!!!. I found that really helps sort out your RT skills.

If they dont need anyone have a go at sitting in the tower and listening or buying and hand held scanner to have a listen to other people on the radio.

S
:cool:

There's nothing better than going as a passenger with someone else who's more used to R/T than you. You'll learn far more when you've nothing to do, than when you are trying to fly, navigate and communicate at the same time.

Also, if you go flying with your friend again, it can be useful to let just one of you do the r/t while the other flies and navigates.

With the extra free brain capacity, you'll pick up the bits your missing much quicker, and improve much faster.

I think that using the radio is just any other skill - you either use it or loose it. And that's particularly relevant when it comes to the radio, because using it often causes people lots of (almost certainly unnecessary) anxiety - so, since it's very easy to fly using the radio only very minimally, that's what lots of people do.

I think the most relevant thing from your post is that you say: "Luckily the controller was very patient with my weak radio strength (and skills I guess) and we had a very pleasant trip round a very beautiful part of the country. Thank you Mr Controller." Unfortunately, not all controllers are that understanding, but the vast majority of them are, and realising that is the key to having the confidence to give it a go, and fly through that bit of airspace instead of around it.

One hint when using the radio is to know what you expect ATC to say to you, and how you will reply, before you press the PTT button. In this respect, using the radio regularly is a big bonus. If you transit that MATZ or that bit of Class D every week or two, you'll soon get used to all the possible replies, and know how to respond to them. If the last time you called for a MATZ transit was a year ago, though, then the chances are you can't remember what reply ATC might give you.

FFF
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I've written a couple of articles on R/T recently. PM me if you fancy a copy of some of my thoughts!