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Author Topic: Phraseology - Controller saying "request"  (Read 14236 times)

Offline falstro

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Phraseology - Controller saying "request"
« on: June 11, 2013, 02:48:00 AM »
I recently had the opportunity to fly a PAR approach to Büchel Airbase in Germany. It was a ton of fun and I'll definitely try it again when I get the chance. However, as we were getting set up for the approach I received the following call

"<callsign> request heading"

It caught me off guard, and it took a while but I eventually interpreted it as "say heading" and gave him my current heading. He didn't complain, but I'm still not sure if that's what he wanted.

A bit later I got a similar call

"<callsign> request QNE"

However, I was unfamiliar with that Q-code (as a private pilot in europe you pretty much need to know QNH, QFE, QDM and QTE) and only later found out it means "pressure altitude". Q-codes suck. Anyway I said "Say again" and he came back and asked how many were on board (which I incorrectly assumed at that point was what QNE meant).

Anyway, I've never heard a controller say "request" before, is it just army version of "say"? The guy had an obvious german accent, so it might be a german military thing, or a NATO thing, or just a simple mistake on his side. Anyone know?

Thanks!



Offline ATCzero

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Re: Phraseology - Controller saying "request"
« Reply #1 on: July 07, 2013, 11:50:42 AM »
Its definitely not how you're supposed to ask in the US. The .65 says the phraseology is "say heading". Must be a Euro thing.

Offline volganevariver

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Re: Phraseology - Controller saying "request"
« Reply #2 on: January 06, 2014, 04:43:45 PM »
In Moscow ATC never use "Request" unless it's an entry phrase before asking a question itself, like pilots sometimes do:
e.g.
- DAL46, Moscow-Control, request
- Go ahead Moscow
- ...question...

I wouldn't ever say like he did and I think this is not correctly at all.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Offline Gadya

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Re: Phraseology - Controller saying "request"
« Reply #3 on: February 08, 2014, 09:42:42 AM »
If an ATC wants to get some information from you something like present heading or crossing altitude he has to ask: report present heading but I still wonder what he ment under request QNE may be he wanted to get your altitude on standard pressure?! We just can assume... not more....

Offline Bob2

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Re: Phraseology - Controller saying "request"
« Reply #4 on: February 17, 2014, 02:32:48 PM »
Much of the world outside the U.S. uses ICAO Phraseology.  See for example http://contentzone.eurocontrol.int/phraseology/.  There are several ways to get to "request", e.g. select "General" from the categories in the left column, then "request" from the right column. 

"Request" means: “I should like to know...” or “I wish to obtain...”.  "Report" means: “Pass me the following information...”.  I've heard both in cases where "say" would be used in the U.S., and I don't know if there is some fine distinction between the ICAO terms or if they are pretty much equivalent.

Bob