From: geoff@peck.com (Geoff Peck)
Subject: Re: Radio procedures at controlled airports
Organization: Geoffrey G. Peck, Consultant, San Jose CA
Date: Tue, 26 Jan 1993 06:47:36 GMT

Many interesting things were said by various netters in response to
article <93020.35980.L697187@LMSC5.IS.LMSC.LOCKHEED.COM> by
L697187@LMSC5.IS.LMSC.LOCKHEED.COM (Scott VanArtsdalen).

A few comments:

    o  A flight instructor's *primary* task is to watch for traffic.
       The instructor's *secondary* task is to teach.  If you find an
       instructor who does not fully understand this statement, switch
       instructors immediately.  (If you don't think I'm serious about
       this, ask some of my students, including CFI students.)

    o  The Airman's Information Manual (AIM) provides a reasonable if
       terse reference for radio communications procedures.  Buy it and
       read it.  There are third-party books available, but they may not
       be necessary if you are willing to spend some time with the AIM.

    o  When using the radio, remember to:
	-  listen before you speak
	-  think before you speak
	-  speak clearly and at a moderate pace, directly into the
	   microphone
       You would be amazed at the number of pilots, even airline pros,
       who violate these three simple rules.
    
    o  At first, you may find it helpful to actually write out the
       expected "conversation" with the controller.  Think of it as
       a script.  An example is attached.

    o  Listen carefully.  Don't hear what you want to hear instead
       of what the controller said.

    o  Be terse when possible, but don't obscure your meaning by being too
       terse.

    o  In general, if a clearance delivery frequency exists at the airport
       you're flying from, it won't hurt to call them up after you get the
       ATIS.  The worst that can happen is that they'll tell you to contact
       ground for your clearance.  You might also consider starting your
       engine _after_ you're done conversing with clearance delivery, but
       prior to contacting ground control.

    o  Don't relax your outside vigilance because you're flying at a
       controlled airport.  Remember that controllers are people too, and
       people do occasionally make misteaks.

						Geoff
-----

Material which follows is Copyright (C) 1989-92, Geoffrey G. Peck and may
be reproduced only with permission.  Direct readers of rec.aviation are
welcome to use this for their own purposes, but may not "pass it on".
[Revision 3 -- April 26, 1990]

		San Jose ARSA Departure Communications
		--------------------------------------

ATIS -- 126.95

    San Jose International Airport information Kilo, 1845 Zulu weather,
    3000 scattered, visibility 4 miles in haze, temperature 86, dewpoint
    54, wind 320 at 10, altimeter 29.92, ILS runway 30 and visual
    approaches in use, landing and departing runways 30 right, left, and
    29.  [...]  Advise you have Kilo.

Clearance Delivery -- 118.0

01T:	San Jose Clearance, Cherokee 2901T, VFR to Hollister with Kilo, right 
	downwind please.
CLNC:	Cherokee 2901T, San Jose clearance.  Clearance on request.
	[slight delay]
CLNC:	Cherokee 2901T, after departure turn right heading 110, maintain VFR, 
	departure frequency will be 120.1, squawk 4321.
01T:	Right to 110, VFR, 120.1, squawk 4321, 01T.

Ground -- 121.7

01T:	San Jose Ground, Cherokee 2901T at southwest parking, short of Alpha 
	with Kilo.
GND:	Cherokee 2901T, San Jose ground.  Taxi to runway three zero right via 
	taxiways alpha, one, and bravo.
01T:	Via alpha, one, and bravo, 01T.

Tower -- 120.7

01T:	San Jose Tower, Cherokee 2901T ready for takeoff at three zero right.
TWR:	Cherokee 2901T, cleared for takeoff runway three zero right.
01T:	01T.
TWR:	01T, radar contact, turn right heading 110, say altitude.
01T:	500 feet, 01T.
TWR:	01T, contact Bay Departure on 120.1.
01T:	120.1, 01T, good day.

Departure -- 120.1, 121.3, 134.5, or 135.2

01T:	Bay Departure, Cherokee 2901T with you out of 1,500 for 5,500.
BAY:	Cherokee 2901T, Bay Departure, Radar Contact.
	[at some point, you'll hear something like:]
BAY:	01T, traffic two o'clock, three miles, 3,000, westbound.
01T:	In sight, 01T.

		    San Jose ARSA Arrival Communications
		    ------------------------------------

Get ATIS -- 126.95

    San Jose International Airport information Mike, 2045 Zulu weather,
    3000 scattered, visibility 6 miles in haze, temperature 76, dewpoint
    52, wind 330 at 8, altimeter 29.93, ILS runway 30 and visual
    approaches in use, landing and departing runways 30 right, left, and
    29.  [...]  Advise you have Mike

Approach -- 120.1, 121.3, 134.5, or 135.2

01T:	Bay Approach, Cherokee 2901T over South County Airport, landing San 
	Jose with Mike.
BAY:	Cherokee 2901T, Bay Approach, squawk 4567 and ident.
01T:	4567, 01T.
BAY:	01T, radar contact 2 miles west of South County Airport,
	proceed straight in for runway 30 right.
01T:	01T.
BAY:	01T, contact San Jose Tower on 120.7.
01T:	121.7, good day, 01T.

Tower -- 120.7

TWR:	San Jose Tower, Cherokee 2901T with you.
TWR:	Cherokee 2901T, San Jose Tower.  Proceed straight in for runway 30
	right, follow Cessna right downwind.
01T:	Looking, 01T.
TWR:	01T, cleared to land, runway three zero right.
01T:	Cleared to land 30 right, 01T.
TWR:	01T, contact ground point 7.
01T:	01T.

Ground -- 121.7

01T:	San Jose Ground, Cherokee 2901T, off the right, taxi to southwest
	parking.
GND:	Cherokee 01T, San Jose Ground, taxi to parking via two, charlie,
	and one.
01T:	Via two, charlie, and one, 01T.