Safetycom 135.475 blind call etiquette Scotland
 

A humble request for those of you using safetycom 135.475 for blind calls in the circuit at uncontrolled or remote airfields in Scotland (or everywhere for that matter) please somewhere in the transmission state the name of the airfield on each call. Twice in the last week when I have had passengers (one a freshly minted private pilot) we heard calls advising "G-xxxx right downwind 27" . My pilot passenger knowing we were also on downwind for 27 frantically started swiveling his noggins searching for the "traffic".

From the circuit at my home strip at Forfar I regularly hear transmissions from Kingsmuir and from as far away as Strathaven South of Glasgow and Insch up in Aberdeenshire, a testament to the quality and capabilities of today's avionics.

Fly safe folks.

Topping & Tailing
 

I understand that ‘Topping & Tailing’ (adding the airfield at the end of the call as well as at the start) to Safetycom calls will be included in the next update of CAP413. It’s becoming common usage in some parts of the country already, for obvious reasons.

Not only is the airfield not identified, but often the runway in use as well.
Leaving you with no clues at all as to where they are.


G-## Downwind. ???????:=

That's very good news: I actually wrote to the CAA after Safetycom was first promulgated to suggest that it was an omission not to specify 'topping and tailing' the transmission as the Cousins have been doing with Unicom for years.

Only taken three revisions to incorporate it.

I'll believe it when I see it.

There are large numbers of strips near our airstrip and virtually nobody adds the strip name at the end: When the initial name is muffled out/inaudible all you have to go on is runway number:

And if that is the same the strip you are approaching the neck swivelling muscles go into overdrive.

Another problem peculiar to Scotland is that the safetycom frequency has been suggested for use in remote areas as a way of self announcing/traffic awareness: this may be the reason for no airfield name heard on some transmissions as effectively there is none if you've just announced that you are screaming down Loch Ness at zero feet....
See here:https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzR...VHc/view?pli=1

Though I'm sure piper boy based as he is in Scotland must have been aware of this

Cusco

FYI here in the antipodes this is common practice (eg: Kingsmuir traffic G-xx downwind etc) and is now second nature.

It doesn't make the call much longer, but putting the area before the main information does tend to alert those in the vicinity much more than a 'bald' call would. It also gives a little time to key into the detail from the remainder of the transmission, perhaps assisting a little in comprehension.

I'm less certain about the value of 'tailing' however.

Otherwise a good move :ok:

FP.

Half an hour's flying from our strip which has two dozen private strips within a twenty mile radius with pilots all forgetting to hit the transmit button before starting to speak or mumbling 'xxxx' traffic into their beards would soon convince you of the value......:ok:

A typical call we hear would be : " bzzpfft ...ffic, G-AB downwind".

Useful or what?

Cusco

Not really sold on the idea of using Safetycom enroute in remote areas, I much prefer using Scottish Information, military LARS if available or TRACON depending on where I am. My experience flying in the highlands is SI have a pretty good overall picture of the traffic in the general area much more so than I think I would get from hoping others are self announcing enroute on safety com. Plus if the **** hits the fan you're already on frequency with SI and they have a ballpark idea where you are for vectoring the cavalry.

I agree with Piperboy. I've tried having a handheld on 135.475, with an earphone under the headset, and the single fixed radio on Scottish. I've heard nothing on 135.475, but lots on Scottish. Even if too low to get Scottish base, there are plenty aircraft who would hear a mayday. And I've heard Tornado pairs check with Scottish for traffic in their intended area.