Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Air Traffic Control Communications: A Guide To Successful Communication Between ATC and The Beginner Pilot
Air Traffic Control Communications: A Guide To Successful Communication Between ATC and The Beginner Pilot
Communications
A guide to successful communication
between ATC and the beginner pilot.
Introduction
In this presentation the following texts will be
referenced:
FAR/AIM
Pilots Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge
Rocky SOP
If they are accessible, please use them and
follow along.
Definitions
What really is ATC?
Reality Check
What is there to be afraid of?
Ground Control
Ground control is monitored by people in the very top
Tower Control
Tower control is monitored by people in the same
Approach/Departure Control
The people that monitor approach/departure control are
frequency: 120.5
Transitioning Outbound
How do I know who to talk to, and when?
Returning Inbound
Inbound communications are a little easier. They tell
You have completed your run-up and you are ready for departure.
Taxi to the hold short line, stop and contact tower.
You must tell tower: Who you are, where you are at, and that you
are ready for take off.
Example: Billings tower, Rocky 31 is holding short of runway 28R
on Alpha, ready for departure.
You must read back your take off clearance. Include your call sign
and departure runway.
Example: Rocky 31 cleared take off runway 28R.
Who you are, where you are at, that you have the current
weather information, and your intentions.
Example: Billings approach, Rocky 31 is 14 miles north,
currently 6,500, information Charlie, request inbound, full stop
28R.
*In the Billings vicinity, you must contact Billings at least 10nm
out. This is so that you may properly enter class C airspace.
While in the practice area, Rocky aircraft usually on Billings
radar during maneuvers.
New words?
Some terms have been mentioned that are probably new to you.
Such as, hold short, taxi line, and by the way, what is the
ATIS?
New words?
The taxi line denotes the area where ground
New words?
The hold short line is one of the most critical lines to
Air traffic control. Past that line you enter towers area
and you have taxied onto an active runway.
If you recall, you contact tower just prior to the hold
short line to let them know that you are ready for
departure.
All airport markings are standardized. Therefore, it
Uncontrolled Fields
Radio communications are essential even at uncontrolled fields.
Uncontrolled Fields
Before we can discuss the radio calls you need to
make, you must understand the terms that you would
be using while communicating. At uncontrolled fields
you must state which part of the traffic pattern you
are on.
There are five different legs of the traffic pattern:
Upwind
Crosswind
Downwind
Base
Final
Uncontrolled Fields
The FAR/AIM defines traffic pattern as:
Uncontrolled Fields
You must transmit when you are on each leg of the
traffic pattern.
In addition, transmit the type of landing you are
expecting. For example, a touch & go, or a full stop
landing.
Communicate your taxi intentions as well. Do this
when you are taxiing to the run-up area, when you
are holding short of a runway, and prior to returning to
the hangar.
have just departed Billings, these are the communications you would
make. (Plan to land runway 4)
Laurel Area traffic, Archer 431RM just departed Billings, any traffic in
the area, please advise.
Laurel Area traffic, Archer 431RM is entering the left downwind for
runway 4.
Laurel Area traffic, Archer 431RM, turning left base, runway 4.
Laurel Area traffic, Archer 431RM, turning final, runway 4.
Laurel Area traffic, Archer 431RM, is departing runway 4 at Bravo,
taxiing to the fuel truck.
Uncontrolled Fields
It is imperative that you are monitoring an
Phonetic Alphabet
If youre not familiar with the phonetic
Phonetic Alphabet
The phonetic alphabet,
along with Morse code
identifications, can be
found in table 4-2-2 of the
AIM.
Inoperative Radios
If you think you have a radio problem, try and
nail down the issue more specifically. Might
you have an inop receiver, transmitter, or
both? Dont panic, there are some simple
steps to take, and a few alternatives.
Inoperative Radios
First, check to make sure you are operating
Inoperative Receiver
Dont assume if you cannot hear radio transmissions that your
the frequency can hear you, but you cannot hear them.
Remain outside the airspace, if able, until you can determine the
direction/flow of traffic. Advise the tower of your type aircraft,
position, altitude, and intentions to land.
Request to be given light gun signals.
*AIM 4-2-13
Inoperative Transmitter
If you have an inoperative transmitter, you can hear
Inoperative Radio
If your entire radio is inoperative:
Cell Phones
An alternative to receiving light gun signals is to
contact the tower via cell phone. (Always fly
with a charged cell phone battery!). Your flight
instructor has this number and will give it to
you at an appropriate phase of your flight
training.
It would be easier to be cleared to land over
the phone rather than light gun signals right?
Frequencies
Although previously mentioned, below are listed the frequencies
Rocky Base
Billings Ground
Billings Tower
Billings Approach
Billings ATIS
Laurel Airport
Great Falls FSS
*Memorize ASAP
123.5
121.9
127.2
120.5
126.3
123.05
122.55
area is as follows:
Radio License
There is no license requirement for a pilot operating in
Transponder
The transponder is located above the circuit breakers on the co-pilot
side of the cockpit. You will receive a transponder code, also known as
a squawk, from ground control, during/after you have received your taxi
clearance.
A transponder code will always have four number (ex- 0432). There are
4,096 possible codes that you could be assigned.
On a typical flight the transponder will be in two different modes. It will be in
the standby mode prior to departure. And on the runway lineup
checklist, it is switched over to altitude. The altitude mode is what
allows the departure controller in the TRACON room to receive a hit of
your aircraft on their radar screen.
Occasionally the active controller will ask you to IDENT. This is a feature
of the transponder. When you IDENT, the hit on the radar screen
begins to flash, allowing them to locate you on their screen easier.
Transponder
Below is a photo of a transponder:
Transponder
The transponder has four distinct codes that
Common Warnings
1)
2)
3)
Aviate
Navigate
Communicate
Common Warnings
Remember ATC controllers are people too,
Audible Examples
Departing runway 28R:
Audible Examples
Contacting Departure:
Audible Examples
Contacting tower & receiving landing
clearance:
Audible Examples
Landing clearance on Runway 25: