AvSport of Lock Haven Mastering Radio Communications Presentation Copyright © 2015 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

AvSport of Lock Haven Mastering Radio Communications Presentation Copyright © 2015 A FAASTeam Wings Award Webinar

AvSport of Lock Haven Mastering Radio Communications Presentation Copyright © 2015 Experimental Aircraft Association AvSport of Lock Haven Aircraft Spruce and Specialty Company Your FAA Safety Team Brought to you by:

AvSport of Lock Haven Mastering Radio Communications Presentation Copyright © 2015 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 webinar is to help pilots automate the communications process, so they can concentrate on flying the aircraft. RATIONALE:

AvSport of Lock Haven Mastering Radio Communications Presentation Copyright © 2015 Upon successful completion of this webinar, 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! OBJECTIVES

AvSport of Lock Haven Mastering Radio Communications Presentation Copyright © 2015 A FAASTeam Wings Award Safety Seminar

AvSport of Lock Haven Mastering Radio Communications Presentation Copyright © 2015 Sentimental Journey to Cub Haven Piper Memorial Airport AvSport of Lock Haven Your FAA Safety Team Brought to you by:

AvSport of Lock Haven Mastering Radio Communications 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.

AvSport of Lock Haven Mastering Radio Communications 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!

AvSport of Lock Haven Mastering Radio Communications Presentation Copyright © 2015 Getting to know you…

AvSport of Lock Haven Mastering Radio Communications 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

AvSport of Lock Haven Mastering Radio Communications Presentation Copyright © 2015 You’re Busy!

AvSport of Lock Haven Mastering Radio Communications Presentation Copyright © 2015 So Are They!

AvSport of Lock Haven Mastering Radio Communications Presentation Copyright © 2015 Now what do I say?

AvSport of Lock Haven Mastering Radio Communications 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

AvSport of Lock Haven Mastering Radio Communications Presentation Copyright © 2015 Who You’re Calling: Tower? Ground? Unicom? Traffic? Somebody else?

AvSport of Lock Haven Mastering Radio Communications Presentation Copyright © 2015 Who You Are: Callsign? Abbreviate? Make and Model? Color? Description? Something else?

AvSport of Lock Haven Mastering Radio Communications Presentation Copyright © 2015 Where You Are: Airport? Pattern Leg? Distance? Landmark? Something else?

AvSport of Lock Haven Mastering Radio Communications Presentation Copyright © 2015 What You’re Doing: Holding Short? Taking Off? Turning? Inbound? Something else?

AvSport of Lock Haven Mastering Radio Communications Presentation Copyright © 2015 What You Want: Departing? How? Entering pattern? How? Turning? Which way? Climbing/Descending? What altitude? Something else?

AvSport of Lock Haven Mastering Radio Communications Presentation Copyright © 2015 Doh!

AvSport of Lock Haven Mastering Radio Communications Presentation Copyright © 2015 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

AvSport of Lock Haven Mastering Radio Communications Presentation Copyright © 2015 Now when do I say it?

AvSport of Lock Haven Mastering Radio Communications 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

AvSport of Lock Haven Mastering Radio Communications 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

AvSport of Lock Haven Mastering Radio Communications 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

AvSport of Lock Haven Mastering Radio Communications Presentation Copyright © 2015 It’s all about Collision Avoidance

AvSport of Lock Haven Mastering Radio Communications Presentation Copyright © 2015 He won’t bust you…

AvSport of Lock Haven Mastering Radio Communications Presentation Copyright © 2015 Quiz time!

AvSport of Lock Haven Mastering Radio Communications Presentation Copyright © 2015 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

AvSport of Lock Haven Mastering Radio Communications Presentation Copyright © 2015 Most midairs occur in the traffic pattern

AvSport of Lock Haven Mastering Radio Communications Presentation Copyright © 2015 …at non-towered airports

AvSport of Lock Haven Mastering Radio Communications Presentation Copyright © 2015 Or, after hours

AvSport of Lock Haven Mastering Radio Communications Presentation Copyright © 2015 Your hands are full…

AvSport of Lock Haven Mastering Radio Communications Presentation Copyright © 2015 So use a headset!

AvSport of Lock Haven Mastering Radio Communications Presentation Copyright © 2015 And a Push-to-Talk Switch!

AvSport of Lock Haven Mastering Radio Communications Presentation Copyright © 2015 Another Question!

AvSport of Lock Haven Mastering Radio Communications Presentation Copyright © 2015 The tower is closed at KIPT. On what frequency should you make traffic calls? MHz MHz MHz MHz MHz

AvSport of Lock Haven Mastering Radio Communications Presentation Copyright © 2015 Practice, practice, practice! At home At work In your car At the airport Everywhere!

AvSport of Lock Haven Mastering Radio Communications 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.”

AvSport of Lock Haven Mastering Radio Communications 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.”

AvSport of Lock Haven Mastering Radio Communications Presentation Copyright © 2015 For example: “Williamsport family, student pilot returning from lesson, entering the kitchen for ham and potato dinner, Williamsport.”

AvSport of Lock Haven Mastering Radio Communications Presentation Copyright © 2015 For example: “First Lutheran choir director, second tenor arriving at choir room, for practicing Handel’s Messiah, First Lutheran.”

AvSport of Lock Haven Mastering Radio Communications 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.”

AvSport of Lock Haven Mastering Radio Communications 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.”

AvSport of Lock Haven Mastering Radio Communications Presentation Copyright © 2015 You’ll sound like a pro!

AvSport of Lock Haven Mastering Radio Communications Presentation Copyright © 2015 I know this one!

AvSport of Lock Haven Mastering Radio Communications 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

AvSport of Lock Haven Mastering Radio Communications Presentation Copyright © 2015 It’s all about safety

AvSport of Lock Haven Mastering Radio Communications Presentation Copyright © 2015 ATC Communications Flight Service Station Flight Watch Flight Following Class D Class C Class B

AvSport of Lock Haven Mastering Radio Communications 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.”

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

AvSport of Lock Haven Mastering Radio Communications 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.”

AvSport of Lock Haven Mastering Radio Communications 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.”

AvSport of Lock Haven Mastering Radio Communications 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.

AvSport of Lock Haven Mastering Radio Communications 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”.

AvSport of Lock Haven Mastering Radio Communications Presentation Copyright © 2015 Prioritize! 1.Aviate 2.Navigate 3.Communicate

AvSport of Lock Haven Mastering Radio Communications Presentation Copyright © 2015 Fly the aircraft first!

AvSport of Lock Haven Mastering Radio Communications Presentation Copyright © 2015 They haven’t yet invented one …that develops lift!

AvSport of Lock Haven Mastering Radio Communications Presentation Copyright © 2015 Don’t drop the aircraft… To fly the microphone!

AvSport of Lock Haven Mastering Radio Communications Presentation Copyright © 2015 Final Question!

AvSport of Lock Haven Mastering Radio Communications 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

AvSport of Lock Haven Mastering Radio Communications Presentation Copyright © 2015 RESOURCES

AvSport of Lock Haven Mastering Radio Communications Presentation Copyright © 2015 ABOUT THE ARTIST The cartoons in this presentation were drawn by Toni Wakes ( ), 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.

AvSport of Lock Haven Mastering Radio Communications Presentation Copyright © 2015