Don’t Drop the Airplane to Fly the Microphone! Prof. H. Paul Shuch, Ph.D., CFII LSRM-A/GL/WSC/PPC, iRMT Heavy Chief Flight Instructor, Director of Maintenance AvSport of Lock Haven FAA Safety Team Lead Representative, Piper Memorial Airport, Lock Haven PA FAASTeam Representative of the Year Presentation Copyright © 2015

A FAASTeam WINGS Award Safety Seminar Presentation Copyright © 2015

Brought to you by: Sebring Regional Airport Authority Sport Aviation Expo AvSport of Lock Haven Your FAA Safety Team Presentation Copyright © 2015

RATIONALE: Student pilots who have mastered all the requisite flying skills often seem to forget everything they’ve learned when it comes time to make a radio call. The goal of this safety seminar is to help pilots automate the communications process, so they can concentrate on flying the aircraft. Presentation Copyright © 2015

OBJECTIVES Upon successful completion of this seminar, you will: Know the five elements of an effective radio call Improve your collision avoidance skills through proper radio usage Demonstrate proper radio technique in towered and non-towered environments Understand what others are saying on the radio Fly The Aircraft First! Presentation Copyright © 2015

Presentation Copyright © 2015

Which of the following are you? (choose one that best describes you) Student Pilot Rated Pilot Flight Instructor Air Traffic Controller Future Aviator Presentation Copyright © 2015

You’re Busy! Presentation Copyright © 2015

So Are They! Presentation Copyright © 2015

Now what do I say? Presentation Copyright © 2015

The five basic elements of an effective radio call: Who you’re calling Who you are Where you are What you’re doing What you want Presentation Copyright © 2015

Who You’re Calling: Tower? Ground? Unicom? Traffic? Somebody else? Presentation Copyright © 2015

Who You Are: Callsign? Abbreviate? Make and Model? Color? Description? Something else? Presentation Copyright © 2015

Where You Are: Airport? Pattern Leg? Distance? Landmark? Something else? Presentation Copyright © 2015

What You’re Doing: Holding Short? Taking Off? Turning? Inbound? Something else? Presentation Copyright © 2015

What You Want: Departing? How? Entering pattern? How? Turning? Which way? Climbing/Descending? What altitude? Something else? Presentation Copyright © 2015

Doh! Presentation Copyright © 2015

Who you’re calling Who you are Where you are What you’re doing Which element of a traffic call should be made at the beginning and the end? Who you’re calling Who you are Where you are What you’re doing What you want Presentation Copyright © 2015

Now when do I say it? Presentation Copyright © 2015

At a non-towered airport: Holding short of the runway Beginning your takeoff run In every traffic pattern turn Departing the traffic pattern Entering the traffic pattern When clear of the runway Presentation Copyright © 2015

VFR at a towered airport: Check ATIS or other wx transmitter first Call Ground Control before taxiing Call Tower when ready for takeoff Inbound, call tower before entering Delta Outbound, report when leaving Delta Otherwise, remain quiet unless ATC requests otherwise Presentation Copyright © 2015

When Practicing: Entering the practice area Changing altitude or direction of flight Exiting the practice area Any time you see another aircraft Position reports every few minutes Listen carefully for other traffic Presentation Copyright © 2015

It’s all about Collision Avoidance Presentation Copyright © 2015

He won’t bust you… Presentation Copyright © 2015

Quiz time! Presentation Copyright © 2015

When entering the traffic pattern When descending to pattern altitude When should you first call the tower if VFR inbound to a Class D airport? When entering the traffic pattern When descending to pattern altitude When radar contact is established Five to ten miles out from the airport No radio communication is required Presentation Copyright © 2015

Most midairs occur in the traffic pattern Presentation Copyright © 2015

…at non-towered airports Presentation Copyright © 2015

Or, after hours Presentation Copyright © 2015

Your hands are full… Presentation Copyright © 2015

So use a headset! Presentation Copyright © 2015

And a Push-to-Talk Switch! Presentation Copyright © 2015

Another Question! Presentation Copyright © 2015

The tower is closed at KIPT The tower is closed at KIPT. On what frequency should you make traffic calls? 119.1 MHz 121.5 MHz 121.9 MHz 122.95 MHz 125.225 MHz Presentation Copyright © 2015

Practice, practice, practice! At home At work In your car At the airport Everywhere! Presentation Copyright © 2015

For example: “Jersey Shore traffic, red Porche Cayman eastbound on Route 220, exiting at the Main Street ramp, proceeding southbound, Jersey Shore.” Presentation Copyright © 2015

For example: “High Tech Corporation pointy-haired boss, Dilbert arriving in conference room, preparing to sleep through the staff meeting, High Tech.” Presentation Copyright © 2015

For example: “Williamsport family, student pilot returning from lesson, entering the kitchen for ham and potato dinner, Williamsport.” Presentation Copyright © 2015

For example: “First Lutheran choir director, second tenor arriving at choir room, for practicing Handel’s Messiah, First Lutheran.” Presentation Copyright © 2015

For example: “McDonald’s minimum wage employee, blue mini-van, holding short of the menu board, for a Big Mac, medium fries, and large sweet tea, to go, McDonald’s.” Presentation Copyright © 2015

For example: “AvSport flight instructor, your best student now arriving in Hangar One, preparing to impress you with my radio communications skills, AvSport.” Presentation Copyright © 2015

You’ll sound like a pro! Presentation Copyright © 2015

I know this one! Presentation Copyright © 2015

Why should you constantly practice radio communications procedures? To learn proper terminology To overcome mike fright To master the Five Elements To sound like a professional pilot All of the above Presentation Copyright © 2015

It’s all about safety Presentation Copyright © 2015

ATC Communications Flight Service Station Flight Watch Flight Following Class D Class C Class B Presentation Copyright © 2015

Flight Service Communications Open and Close VFR Flight Plans Frequencies on Chart (VOR symbol) 122.1R means Listen on VOR Use your callsign and location Their callsign is “Radio” Initial: “Williamsport Radio, 123AB off Lock Haven.” Presentation Copyright © 2015

Flight Watch Communications Enroute Flight Advisory Service Weather updates, nationwide Frequency was 122.0, below 18,000 ft Use your callsign and location Their callsign is “Flight Watch” Initial: “Flight Watch, 123AB near Philipsburg.” Presentation Copyright © 2015

Flight Following Enroute VFR Radar Service On workload-permitting basis Find radar facility frequency on sectional Use your callsign and request Callsign for an ARTCC is usually “Center” Initial: “New York Center, 123AB for flight following.” Presentation Copyright © 2015

Class D Get weather info first (ATIS, AWOS, ASOS) Find tower frequency on sectional Call between five and ten miles out Use your callsign and request Their callsign is “Tower” Initial: “Williamsport tower, 123AB six miles West, landing with Charlie.” Presentation Copyright © 2015

Class C / TRSA / ARSA Find RAPCON frequency on sectional Establish 2-way radio contact before entering their airspace Use your callsign, location, altitude Their callsign is usually “Approach” Initial: “Harrisburg Approach, 123AB ten North at 4500, inbound landing Middletown.” They must respond with your callsign. Presentation Copyright © 2015

Class B Find RAPCON frequency on sectional Establish 2-way radio contact before entering their airspace Use your callsign, location, altitude, ATIS Their callsign is usually “Approach” Initial: “New York Approach, 123AB, over Sparta, 5500 feet, inbound landing Teterboro, with Charlie” They must respond with “Cleared into”. Presentation Copyright © 2015

Prioritize! Aviate Navigate Communicate Presentation Copyright © 2015

Fly the aircraft first! Presentation Copyright © 2015

They haven’t yet invented one …that develops lift! Presentation Copyright © 2015

Don’t drop the aircraft… To fly the microphone! Presentation Copyright © 2015

Final Question! Presentation Copyright © 2015

When must you make a traffic call? Before takeoff In the traffic pattern Before landing When your instructor says so Only when it’s safe Presentation Copyright © 2015

RESOURCES Presentation Copyright © 2015

ABOUT THE ARTIST The cartoons in this presentation were drawn by Toni Wakes (1928 - 1980), a commercial artist and active 99, who ran a small air taxi service in Southern Florida in the 1960's and '70's. She and I shared many pleasant hours aloft, first in an Aeronca Champ, and later in a 180 hp wooden-winged Mooney M-20. These sketches are from her "Airman's Coloring Book", circa 1962. Presentation Copyright © 2015

Presentation Copyright © 2015