Aye and tell them to standby if you have to.

Aviate, Navigate, Communicate.

I had one who I told to standby and when they came back 5 seconds later I ignored them. When I was sorted they asked if I had a problem which was replied to with "yes there is someone on frequency who doesn't know what standby means"

Brill thanks

If you cant remember squaks and frequencies, wear a small kneeboard and write em down,

My FI used to say to me repeatedly when I was learning to fly in the LA basin
"Cut to the chase and tell em Who you are, Where your are and What you want, and don't tie up the frequency waffling a load of sh&t"

I remember departing from Oakland airport in the Bay Area many years ago, I was trying to impress the chic in the right seat with my knowledge of the area by yabbering on to Clearance/Delivery a complicated intended departure route request that involved seeing the bridges,San Fran and Alcatraz etc, at the end of this long winded request the controller responds with a decidedly bored tone by saying "Your want the tour right?". I guess i wasn't the first guy to do some sightseeing on the departure.

Mad Jock: love it......

And don't forget the 20 second rule: Any message can be passed in 20 seconds, if you have pressed the button for 20 seconds let go you are waffling!

Just want to emphasise that I'm not only concentrating my efforts in passing the RT practical test, but rather developing this essential skill for all my aviation to come.

I often listen to LiveATC in conjunction with Flightradar24 - very enlightening! The mutterings and stumblings I hear are at least helping to increase my confidence. I don't think I'm very likely to pick up bad habits by listening to ATC in this way since, on the advice of my flight instructor and RT examiner, I'm focussed on picking up good habits by studying the relevant information in CAP 413, its GA supplement and SafetySense leaflet 22D.

I'm quite confident with the RT calls required at my airfield, both on the ground and when staying in the circuit (I'm currently in the circuit consolidation phase of my training). The stumblings begin after I switch to the LARS service on departing the circuit which, to be fair, I haven't done very much of; I may well get myself a scanner and spend some time listening in to the LARS exchanges. I'm knocking at the door of my first local navigation exercises and I'd like to be prepared in advance as much as possible.

As advised, I'm definitely going to write everything down in future utilising, where appropriate, the shorthand system outlined by Steve6443.

Incidentally, as covered in the following thread, I'm thinking seriously about going somewhere else to complete my training, since the weather here is proving too prohibitive to my progress:
http://www.pprune.org/private-flying...y-dilemma.html

Thanks again for the replies. You've all been of great help and all the advice will benefit me.


Mike

As many have testified here, listening to other GA traffic is a double edged sword. Listening makes you more tuned into to the normal pattern of exchange, but also exposes you to everyone else’s bad habits.

Before I’d even sat my RT exam, I remember flying the entire downwind leg rejoining the circuit at my home airfield, unable to call G-XX downwind" due to a departing aircraft giving the CAA text book version of what NOT to do, “Yep, thanks, got that, rolling now, thanks for the great bacon sandwiches, lovely to see you again… bla bla bla.., thanks for the fuel uplift …bla bla bla, looking forward to dropping in again on our way back, hope the weather’s good for it then, bye-bye for now”

Hopefully you’re far enough into your training to spot those things and know what to do. My FI had a real pet hate of other people’s bad RT and would always make a point of telling me what should have been said by others, not just when I got it wrong.

Well, that should cement good working relationships! Perhaps - just perhaps - your transmission was not heard or was misheard, for a variety of possible reasons?

2 s

Dont waste your money on scanner or anything
Just use this website Listen to Live ATC (Air Traffic Control) Communications | LiveATC.net
Listen out to pilots talking , and try to catch up with them , imagine your self with them use a pen and paper too

ATC Humour
 

If you have a lot of spare time you might enjoy the ATC Humour thread (77 pages and counting). This includes MJ’s guide to unofficial WX forecasts at ABZ (Post # 1490). Some of it is so esoteric as to be an in-joke between three people. Some of it is repetitive and cycles through the same stories every couple of years. As actual training its value is somewhat limited, as background information and entertainment it’s unsurpassed.

I'm intrigued by this, but unsure if it's worth the time & effort in setting up a sim to take part... How active is the ATC on there? Is it good for VFR light aircraft or more for airways flying i.e. can I log on, take off with blind calls from an A/G airfield and get a LARS from the nearest participating ATSU?

Sorry if this post is seen as a hijack... just interested.

Thanks!

Aye it did 2 Sheds I haven't spoken to that unit since.

The bint had given me 2 current RQNH the 2 new ones on the hour. Her MATZ QFE and a request for an ETA of some local point I didn't have a clue about. All while I was at FL60 all in one call.

5 seconds after "standby" there was a demand for a readback.

I never bothered phoning them when requested to either. The multiple chuckles transmitted after my comment including a couple who were obviously on masks was maybe a bit to much for her.