1. Lesson 6: ATC Communications Basics
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
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2. A FAASTeam WINGS Award Seminar
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3. Brought to you by: Wings of Williamsport Piper Memorial Airport
AvSport of Lock Haven
Your FAA Safety Team
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4. OBJECTIVES: Upon successful completion of this lesson, 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!
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5. You’re Busy!
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6. So Are They!
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7. Now what do I say?
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8. 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
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9. Who You’re Calling: Tower? Ground? Unicom? Traffic? Somebody else?
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10. Who You Are: Callsign? Abbreviate? Make and Model? Color? Description?
Something else?
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12. Where You Are: Airport? Pattern Leg? Distance? Landmark?
Something else?
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13. What You’re Doing: Holding Short? Taking Off? Turning? Inbound?
Something else?
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14. What You Want: Departing? How? Entering pattern? How?
Turning? Which way?
Climbing/Descending? What altitude?
Something else?
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15. Quiz Time!
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16. 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
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17. 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
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18. Now when do I say it?
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19. 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
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20. 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
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21. When On A Mission: Entering the operating area
Changing altitude or direction of flight
Exiting the operating area
Any time you see another aircraft
Position reports every few minutes
Listen carefully for other traffic
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22. It’s all about Collision Avoidance
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23. He won’t bust you…
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24. Another Question
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25. 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
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26. 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
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27. Most midairs occur in the traffic pattern
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28. …at non-towered airports
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29. Or, after hours
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30. He probably can’t see you
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31. Your hands are full…
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32. So use a headset!
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33. And a Push-to-Talk Switch!
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34. Or better yet, a remote communicator
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35. I know this one!
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36. 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
MHz
MHz
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37. 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
MHz
MHz
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38. Practice, practice, practice!
At home
At work
In your car
At the airport
Everywhere!
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39. For example:
“Jersey Shore traffic, red Porche Cayman eastbound on Route 220, exiting at the Main Street ramp, proceeding southbound, Jersey Shore.”
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40. For example:
“High Tech Corporation pointy-haired boss, Dilbert arriving in conference room, preparing to sleep through the staff meeting, High Tech.”
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41. For example:
“Williamsport family, student pilot returning from lesson, entering the kitchen for ham and potato dinner, Williamsport.”
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42. For example:
“First Lutheran choir director, second tenor arriving at choir room, for practicing Handel’s Messiah, First Lutheran.”
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43. 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.”
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44. For example:
“AvSport flight instructor, your best student now arriving in Hangar One, preparing to impress you with my radio communications skills, AvSport.”
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45. You’ll sound like a pro!
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46. Doh!
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47. Why should you constantly practice radio communications procedures?
To learn proper terminology
To overcome mike fright
To master the Five Elements
To understand what others are saying
All of the above
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48. Why should you constantly practice radio communications procedures?
To learn proper terminology
To overcome mike fright
To master the Five Elements
To understand what others are saying
All of the above
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49. It’s all about safety
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50. ATC Communications Flight Service Station Flight Watch
Flight Following
Class D
Class C
Class B
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51. 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.”
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52. 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.”
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53. 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.”
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54. 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.”
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55. 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.
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56. 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”.
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57. Prioritize!
Aviate
Navigate
Communicate
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58. Fly the aircraft first!
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59. They haven’t yet invented one
…that develops lift!
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60. Don’t drop the aircraft…
To fly the microphone!
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61. Final Question!
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62. 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
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63. 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
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64. RESOURCES
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66. EAA.ORG/WEBINARS
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67. Drone-Training.org/ppt
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