Holladay Aviation Free Ground SchoolSession #2 — Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2013

Radio Communication atTowered and Non-Towered Airports

Agenda

1.Communicating at Towered and Non-Towered Airports

2.Keys To Effective Communication

3.Examples Of Effective and Not-So-Effective Communication

4.Questions?

5.Role-Playing Exercises

“Frederick Tower, Skyhawk 13573, two mile final, Runway 23…”

Towered Airports

Class D Airspace (Craig) — • Establish & Maintain Two-Way Communication • Clearance to Taxi, Takeoff and Land• No Transponder Required (unless you are within 30

miles of Class B)

Class C Airspace (Jacksonville International) — • Establish and Maintain Two-Way Communication • Clearance to Taxi, Takeoff and Land• Mode C Transponder Required (Unless otherwise

authorized; ex. antique airplane that was not certified with a transponder)

Class B Airspace (Orlando International) — • Establish and Maintain Two-Way Communication • Clearance to Enter Class B Airspace• Clearance to Taxi, Takeoff and Land• Mode C Transponder Required

Automatic Terminal Information Service (ATIS)

Before you begin to taxi at a towered airport, or before you contact the tower when approaching the airport, you need to listen to the ATIS frequency to obtain the following information:

• Identification of the ATIS report (“information Charlie”)• Latest weather conditions (wind, ceiling, visibility,

precipitation, temperature, dew point)• Active runway in use• Any Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs)

* Listen to Craig ATIS on scanner

You can find the ATIS frequencyon the Sectional (shown here)

or in the Airport/Facility Directory

Ground Control

After listening to the ATIS, contact Ground to obtain your clearance to taxi.

Remember the format: WHO, WHERE, WHAT

WHO — “Craig Ground, Warrior 141WA,” WHERE — “Craig Air Center,” WHAT — “Ready for taxi, VFR southeast, Lima.”

VFR = visual flight rules (as opposed to IFR or instrument flight rules)southeast = your direction of flight after departureLima = designation of the current ATIS

Ground will respond with something like:

WHO — “Warrior 141WA, Craig Ground” WHERE — There is no “where” in their reply, because you don’t need to know where they are! WHAT — “Taxi to Runway 5 via Alpha, Bravo”

Taxi Clearances

It’s a good idea to have a copy of the Airport Diagram handy to help you understand and follow your taxi clearance. It’s also where you’ll find the frequency for Ground Control.

In 2010, the FAA issued a policy change mandating that aircraft receive explicit clearance to cross a runway when taxiing to another runway:

“...an explicit runway crossing clearance [must] be issued for each runway (active/inactive or closed) crossing and requires an aircraft/vehicle to have crossed the previous runway before another runway crossing clearance may be issued.”

Taxi ClearancesExample: You are at Daytona Beach Airport, at the General Aviation Parking on the south side of the airport, holding short of Taxiway Papa.

Runway 16 is in use. You call Ground and receive the following taxi clearance:

“Warrior 141WA, Daytona Ground. Taxi to Runway 16 via Papa, Whiskey, hold short of Runway 25R.”

CAUTION: BE ALERT TO RUNWAY

READBACK OF ALL RUNWAY HOLDINGCROSSING CLEARANCES.

INSTRUCTIONS IS REQUIRED.

VA

R 6.0

W

(DAB)DAYTONA BEACH INTLDAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA

81 03’W

AIRPORT DIAGRAM

29 10’N

81 04’W

7L

AIRPORT DIAGRAM

29 12’N

29 11’N

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071.2

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3195 X 100Rwy 7R-25L

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6001 X 1

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DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA

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AERO-UNIVEMBRY-RIDDLE

PARKINGAIRCRAFT

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31ELEV

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FIELDELEV34

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HANGARNASCAR

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S-75, D-170, 2S-175, 2D-260, 2D/2D2-270 RWY 16-34 S-30RWY 07R-25L S-130, D-210, 2S-175, 2D-420, 2D/2D2-870RWY 07L-25R

0.1 WANNUAL RATE OF CHANGE

JANUARY 2010

149TWR

119.3CLNC DEL

121.9 348.6GND CON

120.7 257.8DAYTONA TOWER

120.05ATIS

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DAYTONA BEACH INTL(DAB)

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33ELEVSE-3, 14 N

OV 2013 to 12 D

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DEC

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3

Tower

After you’ve taxied to the runway, it’s time to contact Tower.

Example:

WHO — “Craig Tower, Warrior 141WA,”WHERE — “Holding short Runway 5 on Bravo,”WHAT — “Ready for takeoff.”

It’s a good idea to tell the tower exactly where you are, which in this case is on taxiway Bravo. Two aircraft may be cleared for takeoff from different points along the runway.

Example:

One aircraft is holding short of Runway 5 at B, while a second aircraft is holding short of Runway 5 at B2.

JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDAAIRPORT DIAGRAM13066

AIRPORT DIAGRAM13066

(CRG)

81 31.0’W 81 30.5’W

CAUTION: BE ALERT TO RUNWAY CROSSING CLEARANCES.READBACK OF ALL RUNWAY HOLDING INSTRUCTIONS IS REQUIRED.

5B

40ELEV

D

050.9

B B2

4004 X 100

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S-30RWY 14-32 S-30RWY 05-23

B3

FBO

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AL-208 (FAA)

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40ELEV

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JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA(CRG)

0.1 W

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JANUARY 2010

ANNUAL RATE OF CHANGE

A5

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30 20.0’NV

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W

198

118.35CLNC DEL121.8GND CON132.1 257.625CRAIG TOWER125.4ATIS

JACKSONVILLE EXECUTIVE AT CRAIG

JACKSONVILLE EXECUTIVE AT CRAIG

SE-3, 14 NO

V 2013 to 12 DEC

2013

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Tower

If you’re approaching the airport to land, it’s recommended that you contact the tower 10 miles out.

You must establish and maintain two-way communication with the tower before entering the Class D airspace (dashed blue line on the chart). That means using your full tail number on the initial call:

WHO — “Craig Tower, Warrior 141WA,”WHERE — “10 southeast,”WHAT — “Landing, Delta.”

Tower will then respond with instructions on how you are supposed to approach the airport. Example:

WHO — “Warrior 141WA, Craig Tower.”WHERE — n/aWHAT — “Enter a right base for Runway 5. Report 3 miles.”

Landing Clearances

At a towered airport, you must receive a clearance to land before touching down on the runway. Always read back your landing clearance verbatim.

Tower: “Warrior 141WA, cleared to land Runway 5.”You: “Cleared to land Runway 5, Warrior 141WA.”

Note that in this case, we put the WHO at the end of the transmission.

It is possible for multiple runways to be in use at the same time. Reading back your landing clearance helps avoid misunderstandings and prevents one aircraft from accepting another aircraft’s landing clearance!

This is especially important when there are two aircraft with similar call signs on the frequency at the same time:

Example:

Warrior 141WASkyhawk 341WA

Approach Control

You may need to contact Approach Control:• When requesting VFR advisories (“flight following”)• When entering Class C or B airspace, or a TRSA• When flying under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR)

Approach Control is an air traffic control facility that handles inbound and outbound traffic to one or more airports.

Example: Jacksonville Approach (aka Jax Approach)

Radio communication follows a similar protocol as with Tower or Ground: WHO, WHERE, WHAT

Non-Towered AirportsNo Radio or Transponder Required!

BUT radio communication is strongly recommended.

• Communicate position and intentions to other aircraft• Receive position reports from other aircraft• Ask for help in an emergency

Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF)

• Used at non-towered airports (or at towered airports when the tower is closed)

• Aircraft to aircraft communication• Frequency published on Sectional/TAC and in A/FD• Pilots space and sequence themselves for takeoff and

landing. You are not asking for permission but rather reporting your position “in the blind” assuming that nobody is listening.

Remember that at a non-towered airport, a radio isn’t required. So, you will often see aircraft operating without hearing a corresponding radio transmission.

SEE AND AVOID

is the best way to prevent a mid-air collision or runway incursion. Never rely

solely on radio communications!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4zwDCnjekM

CTAF Communication

Example: You are at Herlong Airport, preparing for takeoff on Runway 29. You are planning to stay in the traffic pattern for a series of touch-and-go landings.

WHO — “Herlong Traffic, Warrior 141WA”WHERE/WHAT — “Departing 29, remaining in the pattern. Herlong.”

Note the addition of “Herlong” at the end to reinforce the WHERE. That’s because another airport in the vicinity may share the same frequency, and perhaps the same runway orientation.

CTAF Communication

Example: You are at Herlong Airport, preparing for takeoff on Runway 11. You are planning to fly to Craig Airport for some practice at a towered airport.

WHO — “Herlong Traffic, Warrior 141WA”WHERE/WHAT — “Departing 11, eastbound. Herlong.”

This lets other pilots in the Herlong area — particularly those to the east — know what your intentions are, so they can make an effort to establish and maintain visual contact with you.

Keys To Effective Communications

Listen before you speak — you may learn what you need to know without having to ask or say anything

Plan what you want to say before you say it — to avoid unnecessary words

Be as succinct and clear as possible

Learn the pattern of radio communication Who — Who are you calling, and who are you? Where — Where are you? (distance/direction from a known reporting point) What — What are you doing and/or what do you want?

Avoid aviation jargon — speak in concise, clear, conversational English (imagine you are verbalizing a text message or a Tweet) Ex: “no joy”, “with the flash”, “with you”, “checking in”, “tallyho” ...

If you don’t understand something, ask the other person to repeat or “say again”

Slow down — If you speak rapidly, you invite the controller to reply rapidly

If you are unable to comply with an ATC instruction immediately, say “standby.” If you are unable to comply for any reason, say “unable.”

Things You Should Not Say(And What To Say Instead)

“Any area traffic, please advise”“Is anyone in the pattern at XYZ”“Rog” “Turning left final” (or right final)“On the 45 to runway XX” versus a specific distance/direction from the airport“Cessna N12345” instead of “Skyhawk N12345”“Checking In” or “With You” when contacting an air traffic controller“10 miles out” which is non-specific, versus “10 northeast”, which is specific“Taking the runway”“Approximately” with regard to distance from the field“Seven point two five miles” with regard to distance from the field (overzealous use of GPS)“This is…” with regard to your tail number“Forty five hundred” versus “Four thousand, five hundred”“Runway nineteen” versus “Runway one nine”

Remember —

Keep It Simple!

If you don’t know what to say — just use PLAIN ENGLISH.

Example #1National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA)

Archie League Awards 2013

On March 1, 2012 air traffic controller Bill Sullivan was directing a Piper Malibu from Tampa Executive Airport to Tampa International Airport. But shortly after takeoff, the pilot declared an emergency due to flight control problems.

Realizing his best plan of action would be redirecting the pilot back to Tampa Executive, Sullivan began giving him the necessary coordinates to return to the airport. The pilot was in clear distress. His breathing became rapid and he was unable to communicate his situation with Sullivan as he attempted to steer the aircraft in response to the turns being issued. Sullivan continued directing the pilot until he finally saw the airport.

http://natca.org/ULWSiteResources/natcaweb/Resources/media/ArchieLeague2013Audio/AUDIOSouthernRegionTPA.mp3

Example #2Confused JFK Controller Unravels

A senior controller in the tower at John F. Kennedy International Airport appears to unravel as he becomes confused as to the position of several aircraft on the ground. Kennedy is one of the busiest airports in the country with a complex system of taxiways.

Fortunately no aircraft were damaged or people injured, but the episode highlights the importance of always reading back ATC instructions exactly as they are given, and stopping the airplane and asking for clarification if you’re unsure what you are being asked to do.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BMDkwfkXv0

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Example #3NTSB Cites ATC Error As Probable Cause of Near Mid-Air Collision

On June 19, 2011 at Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport, a Cessna 172 was cleared for takeoff on runway 18. Sixteen seconds later, the same air traffic controller cleared an Embraer 145 regional jet for takeoff on runway 14.

While both airplanes were about 300 feet above the airport, the Embraer passed in front of the Cessna. The closest proximity between the two planes was estimated to be 0 feet vertically and 300 feet laterally.

The Cessna was on a local instructional flight. No one in either airplane was injured in the incident.

http://aviationsafetynetwork.wordpress.com/tag/atc/

X

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CAUTION: BE ALERT TO RUNWAY CROSSING CLEARANCES.

READBACK OF ALL RUNWAY HOLDING INSTRUCTIONS IS REQUIRED.

H

AIRPORT DIAGRAM GULFPORT, MISSISSIPPI

(GPT)

135.6

14

GULFPORT-BILOXI INTL

AIRPORT DIAGRAM

ELEV

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315.6

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AREATRAINING

HELICOPTERNORTH

AREA

TRAINING

HELICOPTER

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0.1 WANNUAL RATE OF CHANGE

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Questions?

www.liveatc.net

Pilot/Controller Glossary

AIM 4-2, Radio Communications, Phraseology and Techniques