Re: Overwhelmed by ATC...

<snoopy_@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1127863742.877979.247130@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>
> Anyone have any good info for ATC Comm?
>
> I've read the AIM, although it was not very detailed. I also
> purchased a book "Say Again, Please," but again it didn't help me much.
> The "Say Again, Please" book seems great for someone who has been
> flying for a little while, and will help you fill in a lot of holes,
> but not for a complete novice (no offense to the author, I've seen him
> in this group, I just need more spoon feeding maybe). I have also spen
> san afternoon at a controlled airport and listened with a handheld
> scanner; I've even recorded the comm traffic for later listening, but
> it still is difficult picking up the information from the comm.
>

I used to actually go sit near the approach end of a runway where I knew I
would clearly hear both the tower and aircraft, listen for the tower to make
a radio call and reply right *outloud* as if I were flying the plane they
were calling. At first, none of it made any sense at all. Eventually, I
was able to respond clearly and without hesitation. Most times, I would
spit it out more succinctly than the actual pilot overhead. Also,
responding to a wide variety of N numbers made getting the phonetic alphabet
nailed down much easier. Also, I used to drive around town and read license
plates using the phonetic alphabet.

> I've only tried it twice, and at best you speak maybe 30 seconds
> total before landing. And if they just give you a straight in you
> don't spend much speaking at all. Other times there's a little static,
> or stepped on transmissions. Most of the time though I'll here
> something that takes me a second or two to process and understand, then
> the instructor gets freaked out because the response isn't quick
> enough.

Your instructor needs to calm down a little. Unless you are getting into a
situation that requires you to do something "immediately" or "'without
delay", taking a couple of seconds to mentally build a phrase won't set
anyone off. When I suffered brainlock during my training (and my CFI could
tell when I got the "Deer In The Headlights Look"), he'd just go ahead and
make the proper response in a more timely fashion than I was able to do at
the moment, then, once the bulb lit up over my head, he'd simply have me say
on the intercom what I should have said over the radio. Eventually, the
light bulb became more closely followed by my finger on the Xmit button and
I was making my own calls all the time.

> What did the ATC just tell me? Was it an instruction? Do I
> have to repeat a portion or all of it back? Is it just a simple
> affirmative, or roger. Ughhh! I even tried to fly using some online
> sims to see if that helped, but that was just tortures path to
> installing loads of software that then needed to be troubleshot and
> fixed.

As other have mentioned, one of the big keys is to keep ahead of things. If
you are training in an aircraft that has dual comms, use the other radio to
"preset" the next pair of frequencies you'll need...and as you do,
anticipate what you'll probably hear as you flop over to the next frequency
to contact approach, the tower, ground, etc. Be sure to LISTEN for a beat
or two before transmitting. Often, you can glean valuable info by hearing
what ATC says to other pilots who may be inbound ahead of you. Situational
Awareness (SA) is important. Knowing where you are in relation to the
airport, or to the active runway, or to the FBO after you land will make
your life easier because you'll be able to anticipate pattern entries (will
you get a 45 to the downwind, base entry or straight in...), taxi routes
(left or right out of parking), etc, and you'll eventually be able to "know"
what ATC is going to say before they say it (there are no absolutes,
however...)

"Say Again", "Say Slower", "Double Words" are all phrases that can get ATC
to whoa up a bit and make sure you are both on the same page. The phrase
"Student Pilot" doesn't hurt either as that gives ATC a clue that you are
kind of new at this and might need things on the radio to be a bit slower.
If it all goes wrong or you are in a situation where you feel like ATC is
rushing you to do something, say "Unable" and ATC will help you sort out a
different approach.

Keep at it as it will eventually come together!

Good Luck and report back often.

Jay Beckman
PP-ASEL
AZ Cloudbusters
Chandler, AZ


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