As you approach your destination, ATC will clear you to begin a descent from your enroute altitude to some lower altitude. Often descent clearances will come in a series of lower altitudes. This series of step-down clearances is issued to allow you to descend without conflicting with other traffic at lower altitudes. Occasionally, and in …
You are flying an ILS approach into an uncontrolled pattern. The weather in the pattern permits VFR. There are other pilots buzzing around the airport. As you change from ATC’s frequency to the airport’s common traffic advisory frequency, what are you thinking about? Completing that ILS? Sure. If you are like me, you are thinking …
Here are some of the questions about IFR radio procedures I’m asked most often. Q: Am I required to use my call sign at the beginning or end of my transmission? A: According to the Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM), you may use your call sign at the beginning or end of a transmission. It’s not …
Questions and Answers About IFR Radio Procedures Read More »
Note: A busy flying schedule this week plus moving to a new house has put me behind the power curve. That’s why I’m presenting this week’s IFR Flight Radio Show by the fastest means possible–for me, anyway–writing. Climbing Unrestricted Let’s say, in your pre-departure clearance, ATC has cleared you to fly the Teterboro One Departure, …
When you cannot comply with an ATC clearance, the magic word to use is “unable”. Simply saying “unable”, and nothing else, might not get you completely off the hook with ATC. I’ll explain why, and what to do about in this month’s edition of IFR Flight Radio. Show Resources From the Aeronautical Information Manual’s Pilot/Controller …
Cutting a corner by requesting direct to a point further along your route of flight could save time and fuel. An enroute air traffic controller will try to honor your request if circumstances permit. First and foremost it pays to know how to make a request direct to a point. We’ll discuss all the particulars …
If your IFR training was like mine, you spent a lot of time taking radar vectors to instrument approaches using approach control service. Less time was spent working with enroute center controllers. Communicating with an enroute controller at an air route traffic control center (ARTCC) is its own special skill. In today’s show, we’ll look …
Do you know what you are required to read back when ATC issues a clearance to you? Apparently a lot of pilots–including high-time pros–don’t know what they are required to read back. A contact of mine at Chicago Approach Control said he is pulling his hair out because many pilots do not read back his …
It happened again this week. I bring it up so you’ll know you are not alone with this problem. This was at St. Maarten International–yes, that St. Maarten. The place where everyone hangs onto the fence, and their swim shorts, as the KLM 747 comes screaming overhead at 50 feet. “Didja get it? Didja get the …
Hey Air Traffic Control, I think I might have a big problem but I’m not declaring an emergency. Standby for further information. In today’s show we are going to discuss aircraft problems that fall into gray areas. We’ll discuss how to break through the fog of indecision and determine whether you need to declare an …
Shaky Emergencies and Cranky Air Traffic Controllers Read More »
