airtraffic

Author Topic: Attention VFR pilots - a tip from ATC  (Read 14097 times)

Offline airkiwi

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Attention VFR pilots - a tip from ATC
« on: August 06, 2014, 12:35:28 AM »
I'm going to preface this by saying that everyday I'm at work I try to be a pilot-friendly controller. I want to help you get safely from A-to-B, provide service, etc. I'm not the guy who's annoyed that you are adding to my workload.

If you depart an airport and want either VFR flight following or pick up and IFR, please do the following. On initial call to center / approach, do not spit out your call sign at rapid speed followed by aircraft type destination crusing altitude. We are good at listening, trust me. But too often inexperienced pilots who are nervous hear a break in the comms and it's ''Center November OneThreeSixSierraNovemberRequestingFlightFollowingToOrmondBeachWe'reInACessnaSkywagonClimbingOutOfThreeThousandForSixPointFiveApproximately35MilesSouthOfSavannah".

What ATC needs to start with is your call sign, and providing the 8 other pieces of information is nice, but starting out with a "Center, November One Three Six Sierra November, request" calmly and clearly is the best way to get what you want, which is tagged up and on your way. If you're a CFI who spends time training foreign pilots, something I personally deal with, the pilots with broken English are a challenge for everyone involved - and it's even more important for them to be clear and quick so the freq isn't tied up.



Offline w0x0f

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Re: Attention VFR pilots - a tip from ATC
« Reply #1 on: August 06, 2014, 10:25:11 PM »
Airkiwi,

I feel your pain.  A controller from Atlanta Center, Don Brown, wrote an excellent series of articles for Avweb about the mystery of ATC.  Don has since retired but his articles live on.  Here is the one he wrote pertaining to your topic. 

http://www.avweb.com/news/sayagain/182635-1.html?redirected=1

It's about half way into the article.  And pilots, please pay special attention to the part near the end when Don talks about VFR pilots who say they "are with you" on initial contact.  That usually leads to 2 minutes a potentially busy controller will never get back.

Here is a link to all the articles that I consider a must read.  Don is a funny man and it shows in his writing.

http://www.avweb.com/news/sayagain/index.html?page=8

w0x0f

Offline N/A

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Re: Attention VFR pilots - a tip from ATC
« Reply #2 on: August 07, 2014, 11:53:49 AM »
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« Last Edit: June 16, 2021, 02:49:23 PM by None. »

Offline svoynick

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Re: Attention VFR pilots - a tip from ATC
« Reply #3 on: August 08, 2014, 03:16:23 AM »
Here is a link to all the articles that I consider a must read.  Don is a funny man and it shows in his writing.

http://www.avweb.com/news/sayagain/index.html?page=8
Funny man, indeed.

In all seriousness, though; these are excellent articles that I've never come across before. Thanks a bunch for sharing them!
I know... looks like I've got a bunch of reading to do!   After clicking on the linked one, I read a couple more, and then finally I had to bookmark it for later so I could get back to work!

Offline w0x0f

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Re: Attention VFR pilots - a tip from ATC
« Reply #4 on: August 08, 2014, 10:28:30 PM »
I'm glad you enjoyed them.  They're too good not to share.

w0x0f

Offline patrecko

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Re: Attention VFR pilots - a tip from ATC
« Reply #5 on: August 29, 2014, 05:06:15 AM »
I am a pretty proficient but controlled air space intimidates me so I fly around,, under or over.. UGH... Just wished it didnt make me so nervous. At 180 hr's you would think I would be over that but I just dont see controlled air in my home base area so when I leave this area I still try and avoid it... Any tips or suggestions on getting over this? Do I just go with it and do my best? Will ATC understand if I am nervous?

Offline N/A

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Re: Attention VFR pilots - a tip from ATC
« Reply #6 on: August 29, 2014, 11:37:52 AM »
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« Last Edit: June 16, 2021, 02:49:01 PM by None. »