Using ATC to Check the Status of a MOA
Is it safe to fly VFR through a MOA? It depends.
VFR Radio Podcast
Taxi Clearance Anxiety
If you have ever felt butterflies in your stomach when faced with contacting Ground Control for taxi clearance, you have experienced something I call Taxi Clearance Anxiety. It’s a made-up term but the phenomenon has real consequences. Some pilots go out of their way to avoid controlled airports with complicated taxiway layouts. Even high-time pro …
Contacting Flight Service; Searching for IFR Traffic in an Uncontrolled Pattern
If you can get all the aviation weather data you need online, do you really need to know how to contact Flight Service on the radio? It depends on who you ask. I say yes. A Flight Service agent can save time and point you in the right direction. An agent can quickly sift through …
Contacting Flight Service; Searching for IFR Traffic in an Uncontrolled Pattern Read More »
Making Mistakes on the Aircraft Radio
In this episode, we’ll talk about why you make mistakes on the radio and what it says about your performance as a pilot. I think my analysis will surprise you (in a good way). Also, some pilots have asked interesting questions about the details of reporting your position in an uncontrolled airport pattern. Just when …
Coming Up in Radar Contact
Next Radar Contact Show, “Mistakes Happen”. We all make mistakes when transmitting on the radio, even pilots like me with decades of experience. Last night, flying from Nagoya, Japan to Honolulu, I got mentally out of synch with the person at the other end of the radio. I made several transmissions that had no connection …
Aircraft Color in Place of Call Sign is a Bad Idea
“Town and Country Traffic, red and white Skyhawk, 4-mile final, Runway One Seven, Town and Country.” “Town and Country Traffic, blue and white Warrior, turning base, Runway One Seven, Town and Country.” “Town and Country Traffic, red and white Skyhawk, final, Runway One Seven, Town and Country.” Do you think saying your aircraft’s color scheme …
Aircraft Color in Place of Call Sign is a Bad Idea Read More »
Next Radar Contact Show: Call Sign by Color, and Picking Up VFR Flight Following
If you’re using your aircraft model and color scheme to identify yourself in an uncontrolled airport pattern, I have a good reason to quit immediately. Let’s talk about that reason in the next edition of the Radar Contact Show. It’s been awhile since we talked about how to make initial contact with ATC when requesting …
Next Radar Contact Show: Call Sign by Color, and Picking Up VFR Flight Following Read More »
Common Traffic Advisory Frequencies and ATC as Customer Service
This edition of the Radar Contact Show consolidates the previous 3 articles about using a Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF) and about ATC as customer service organization. If you would rather read about CTAF, you can find the full articles using these links. How to Select and Use the Correct Common Traffic Advisory Frequency It’s …
Common Traffic Advisory Frequencies and ATC as Customer Service Read More »
What ATC’s ‘Make Closed Traffic’ Clearance Means
“Cessna 9130 Delta, Pensasoda Tower, make right closed traffic. Runway 11, cleared for takeoff.” What has ATC just authorized you to do? More importantly, what has ATC not authorized you to do? The answers are not as straight-forward as you would think. You have declared an emergency with ATC. Then, it occurs to you. You …
What ATC’s ‘Make Closed Traffic’ Clearance Means Read More »
Radar Contact Preview: Cleared to Land
Here’s your challenge. Where does the Aeronautical Information Manual, or the J.O. 7110.65 (Air Traffic Control) specifically say you must receive a “cleared to land” from Tower before landing? I’ll have a complete discussion of the topic, including words from air traffic controllers in the next edition of the Radar Contact Show. On a related …