A320 FMA ''G/S'' callout
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From: earth
A320 FMA ''G/S'' callout
Been looking around this answer in the manuals, but cannot seem to find something clear cut about the following. Unless I am missing something.
When you fly a ILS. How do you guys here prenounce the ''GS*'' and ''G/S'' modes? Do you say ''Glideslope'' or do you keep it short and say ''G/S''? Same goes for ''LOC'' and LOC*'' modes.
First I always said the full wording like ''glideslope'' or ''localiser''. Every now and then I catch myself doing it the short way around and just say ''G/S''. And captains aswell, off course it gets the message across but it made me wonder how often this happens to other people.
I know it's a silly topic but I guess a little bit of curiosity won't hurt too much...
When you fly a ILS. How do you guys here prenounce the ''GS*'' and ''G/S'' modes? Do you say ''Glideslope'' or do you keep it short and say ''G/S''? Same goes for ''LOC'' and LOC*'' modes.
First I always said the full wording like ''glideslope'' or ''localiser''. Every now and then I catch myself doing it the short way around and just say ''G/S''. And captains aswell, off course it gets the message across but it made me wonder how often this happens to other people.
I know it's a silly topic but I guess a little bit of curiosity won't hurt too much...
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From: earth
Well, when the guy on the left went a little ''mental'' so to say, I had the same thought.... LOL
But since this is the public discussion forum of all places, I figured why not ask here and see how everyone is going to bash around regarding something silly as this. I see I forgot to mention why I ask this in my first posts....whoops, well now you now....
But since this is the public discussion forum of all places, I figured why not ask here and see how everyone is going to bash around regarding something silly as this. I see I forgot to mention why I ask this in my first posts....whoops, well now you now....
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From: somewhere in the middle
As ever, FCOM, pro-nor-sop will have the Airbus / Your company definitive answer, but...
“Gee-Ess”, “Glide” and “Glideslope” are all things I’ve said in the past, and will probably say again in the future. Never been picked up on it (who has the energy to get worked up about it, really?)
The important thing (as per Airbus golden rules) is to know and understand the FMA.
“Gee-Ess”, “Glide” and “Glideslope” are all things I’ve said in the past, and will probably say again in the future. Never been picked up on it (who has the energy to get worked up about it, really?)
The important thing (as per Airbus golden rules) is to know and understand the FMA.
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From: earth
Don't get me wrong, the captain was really not a bad guy and I would like to think he does it with the best intentions. As a relatively new FO I try to always remember advice given to me by captains, but I feel this is just one of those things that goes in the ''Do we really care'' area....
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From: USA
Don't get me wrong, the captain was really not a bad guy and I would like to think he does it with the best intentions. As a relatively new FO I try to always remember advice given to me by captains, but I feel this is just one of those things that goes in the ''Do we really care'' area....
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From: earth
Thanks for all the input here. Normally I woudn't even care, and stuff like this goes in one ear, and leave from the other. But this was just one of many little things during the flight that made flying a very ''fun'' and long day. And it did spark some interest in what others think about this.
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From: Seat 1A
Lexsis, my sympathies. I agree with your skipper. Calling alternately "Gee Ess" or "Glideslope" is ridiculous. They sound completely different, and as my SOP says "Glideslope" if an effo said "GS" I'd pull them up. There's millions of ways to fly aeroplanes, and FOs are driven mad by captains doing things differently. In the end it doesn't really matter, but standardise it. Flying's supposed to be fun, not trying to guess what the captain wants or likes to hear. Put it in the SOPs and stick with it. That said, with all the Airbus SOP prescription, surely this is already covered somewhere?
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From: Europe
I flew recently with one captain who insisted it should be "Gee-Es" because "glideslope" is reserved for calling out of stabilization criteria. His reasoning being, that when he hears "Glideslope", one cannot be sure whether it's mode annunciation or a callout that something is wrong with the glideslope.
I have to admit, there is some merit to his thinking, but as with many other things in aviation - I cannot think of any situation when there could be any confusion regarding those two events, even more so one that would affect safety at all.
I have to admit, there is some merit to his thinking, but as with many other things in aviation - I cannot think of any situation when there could be any confusion regarding those two events, even more so one that would affect safety at all.
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From: 5° above the Equator, 75° left of Greenwich
I flew recently with one captain who insisted it should be "Gee-Es" because "glideslope" is reserved for calling out of stabilization criteria. His reasoning being, that when he hears "Glideslope", one cannot be sure whether it's mode annunciation or a callout that something is wrong with the glideslope.
) a couple of seconds ago. The ability of some pilots to engineer problems amazes me sometimes.In regards to the OP, check your SOP. Is there a specific way to call it written in there? Call it that way. Is there not? Then call it as you like, preferably in the most clear way possible to your partner! I call it simply "glide slope (star)", but then again, I call "Loc", "nav", "Alt", or even a mix: "alt constraint star"! So what do I know...
As you know, not all things are written and in those cases, I believe things should be as concise and clear as possible, so as long as you don't call it something like "sliding down the glide" or something as or more ridiculous than that, you're fine. So if you call "gee ess" (I'd probably raise an eyebrow though as I'm not used to hearing it) or "glide slope" I guess I wouldn't care. Just my 2c though.
PS: Save yourself some unnecesary exposure and call it as your partners call it (so long as it's something acceptable!)
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From: 500 miles from Chaikhosi, Yogistan
I flew recently with one captain who insisted it should be "Gee-Es" because "glideslope" is reserved for calling out of stabilization criteria. His reasoning being, that when he hears "Glideslope", one cannot be sure whether it's mode annunciation or a callout that something is wrong with the glideslope
Last edited by compressor stall; 3rd September 2018 at 11:40. Reason: Added capitals as my idevice doesn’t upload quotation marks to pprune.
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From: earth
Thanks for the replies.
So I looked around a bit more in the OM and sop's. The only mention about FMA calls in the OM I can find with, is an example regarding armed modes that they should be called with their color.
And it gives a clear example. ''G/S BLUE'', ''LOC BLUE''. It then goes on about active modes being called out without their color, and gives a few more examples. And goes on about the usual stuff like challenging when nothing or wrong thing is said etc.
I guess this is the answer for my own question and we can close this discussion. I do not at all like to be such a pedantic f*ck. But when constantly being challenged about little things (some were good hints though), its gonna spark my interest aswell.
So I looked around a bit more in the OM and sop's. The only mention about FMA calls in the OM I can find with, is an example regarding armed modes that they should be called with their color.
And it gives a clear example. ''G/S BLUE'', ''LOC BLUE''. It then goes on about active modes being called out without their color, and gives a few more examples. And goes on about the usual stuff like challenging when nothing or wrong thing is said etc.
I guess this is the answer for my own question and we can close this discussion. I do not at all like to be such a pedantic f*ck. But when constantly being challenged about little things (some were good hints though), its gonna spark my interest aswell.