Chris Findley, CFI, CFII

myFlightCoach.com

Laying the Groundwork

We often begin instruction on communication with what to say on the mic

BUT good communication begins with thinking not speaking!

Thinking Before You Speak Good Aviation Communication begins

with:Visualization

○ Do I understand both where I am and where am I in the ATC system?

○ Do I understand what I am doing? What is happening around me? How do my operations fit within the system?

○ Do I understand what I want to do and what I’m asking of the ATC system?

Thinking Before You Speak Good Aviation Communication begins

with:Anticipation

○ ATC Communication is helped by understanding what should come next

○ As we listen we can determine probable actions of ATC

○ Staying ahead of the airplane helps us in our communication

Thinking Before You Speak Good Aviation Communication begins

with:Adaptation

○ Forrest Gump “You never know whatcha gonna git!”

○ You may not get what you anticipate, so always be ready (and flexible)

○ Controllers will work with you ○ But don’t try to pass PIC responsibility to the

controller!

Thinking Before You Speak SO..good aviation communication

begins with:VisualizationAnticipationAdaptation

Thinking Before You SpeakClip of flight vectoring around KBNA (Centurion 0HC)

Blue: Desired Route Red: Actual Route

ATC Example: Vectoring Explanation (Listen to this first)

Thinking Before You Speak SO..good aviation communication

begins with:VisualizationAnticipationAdaptation

Then we can worry about how to speak and what to say!

Basics of Communication

DO DON’T

Speak clearly, distinctly Mumble

Speak at a quick pace Rush it (no auctioneers!)

Speak honestly Agree to anything you think is not safe

Ask for guidance if needed Refuse help you need

Basics of Communication Communication usually starts with an

initial callup (specifically airborne in B,C, or D airspace)

At a non-towered airport, it’s similar, but you self-announce your position relative to the airport

Basics of Communication 4 W’s for initial call up

W – Who you’re callingW – Who you areW – Where you areW – What you want

In controlled airspace repeat back instructions. Insures that they know that you know, what they have asked you to do!

Basics of Communication Initial Call Up in busy airspace:

Tune to the freq, and listen for a minute or 2. This helps you not to “step” on someone’s transmission

Consider simply saying the first 2 Ws (Who you’re calling and who you are) and waiting for acknowledgement

This prevents you from tying up the freq and yet “establishes communication” for Class C (more on that later)

Basics of Communication Initial Call Up in busy airspace:

After going through the 4 Ws, anticipate○ Acknowledgement of radar contact and

location○ Transponder “squawk” code ○ Any additional instructions○ Local Altimeter Setting

Repeat back squawk and instructions

Basics of Communication Initial Call Up in busy airspace:

If airborne trying to enter Class C airspace, you must establish communications

This is simply an exchange which acknowledges you and your tail number

If airborne entering Class B, then you must be cleared by the controller to enter the Class B

If a student pilot, you must be trained and endorsed for the particular Class B

Thinking Before You SpeakClip of Cessna N6457D Initial Callup and flight to KMQY

Blue: Desired Route Red: Actual Route

Clip of entering Class C at KBNA

Basics of Communication Initial call up for CTAF:

If approaching a non-controlled field, begin monitoring CTAF 8-10 miles out and obtain AWOS if available

Begin announcing your location and intentions about 8 miles out

Announce again as you approach, at pattern entry and on each leg of the pattern.

Basics of Communication On the Ground

Non-Towered simply use the 4 Ws to announce your taxi to the runway

Towered, Initial call up is to ground control or clearance delivery. 4Ws

Ground control will provide you with clearance to taxi (do not start taxi until cleared)

Basics of Communication

Basics of Communication On the Ground your call up would be:

“Smyrna ground, Skyhawk 6457Delta, at Corporate Flight ramp, VFR to Papa Delta Kilo, 5,500, ready to taxi with the numbers”

NOTE: “with the numbers” means I have listened to the ASOS weather report and active runway info

Basics of Communication On the Ground your call up would be:

“Skyhawk 6457Delta, Smyrna Ground, Squawk 5472, taxi to runway 19.”

Response: “6457Delta, 5472, and taxi to runway 19”

NOTE: If you are going to cross a runway, get clearance to cross a runway before doing so!

Basics of Communication Once you’ve taxied and runup is

complete and you’re ready to depart. Go to the tower freq and say:

“Smyrna tower, 6457Delta ready to go, runway 19, VFR to Papa Delta Kilo”

Tower: “Skyhawk 6457Delta, Smyrna Tower, cleared for takeoff runway 19, right turn on course, cleared for take off”

Basics of Communication Once airborne, the tower will turn you

over to approach/departure and you just need to check in as the tower would have you in the ATC system so App/Dep would be ready for you:

“Nashville Departure, Skyhawk 57Delta is with you 2000 for 5,500”

Basics of Communication Now let’s listen in as someone makes a

pretty big mistake…unauthorized landing at KPWM (Portland, ME)

Try to figure out what went wrong Try to figure out what you would do and

why

Basics of Communication

Aircraft: C-172 Skyhawk N982SK

Clip of Cessna’s unauthorized landing

Basics of Communication Basic Principles

After you’ve established communication you can refer to yourself as your type and the last 3 of your tailnumber

If you need a moment ask the controller to “Standby”

If you need to leave the frequency, perhaps to call an FSS, you can make a request to “leave the frequency for a moment”

Set radios up as much as possible on the ground and have your next frequency in the standby section of your radio

Overcoming “Mic Fright”

Rehearse: Let your CFI act as controller and rehearse your callups on the ground

Walk it Through: literally walk your flight allowing you CFI to be the controller.

Build: Start out doing some of the easy calls and build your confidence

Basics of Communication Basic Principles

Lots of info here! Questions?If you want a copy of this presentation and a

couple of scripts for rehearsing calls:

Email: chris@myflightcoach.com Follow on Twitter: @myflightcoach

Flight recordings courtesy of www.liveatc.net