Transcript Sport Pilot Training Program

Pre-Solo Training Program
Flight Briefing: Lesson 5
Radio Communications
In cooperation with Mid Island Air
Service, Inc. Brookhaven, NY
(Michael Bellenir, CFI)
Lesson 5 Objectives


During this briefing, go over basic radio
communication procedures, and explore use
of the radio in the traffic pattern.
Upon completion of this briefing, you will
practice flying in the traffic pattern. You will
review and apply the basic flight maneuvers
you have learned in your previous lessons,
while demonstrating proper radio
communications procedures.
Flight Briefing: Lesson 5
Radio Communications
Except in some types of controlled airspace, radio
use is completely optional. They haven’t yet
invented a radio that develops lift! So, if you
become overwhelmed with too many tasks,
forget the radio and FLY THE AIRPLANE.
That said, effective use of inflight communications
equipment can greatly aid in collision avoidance,
especially in congested areas. So learn to use
the radio correctly.
Flight Briefing: Lesson 5
Radio Communications


Many pilots report their positions on the radio so that
other pilots know where to look for them. This is optional
at non-towered airports, but it is recommended and is a
good idea.
To make a position report (or, generally, any radio call),
simply state:
–
–
–
–
–
–
Who you’re calling
Who you are
Where you are
What you’re doing
What you want
And then end by repeating: Who you’re calling
Flight Briefing: Lesson 5
Radio Communications

Who you’re calling:
–
Many airports share the same Common Traffic
Advisory Frequency (CTAF), so it is important to
make it clear which airport you are at. When we
talk on the radio here at Lock Haven, we are
addressing any traffic that might be in the local
area. We start our call simply by saying, “Lock
Haven Traffic,” or “Piper Traffic,” or simply “Lock
Haven .”
Flight Briefing: Lesson 5
Radio Communications

Who you are:
–
–
Next state who you are. This way other aircraft
know what type of aircraft they are looking for and
will be able to keep track of you individually.
Formally, we would say “SportStar november six
six alpha victor,” our full call sign. However, to
avoid radio clutter at uncontrolled fields, it is often
preferable to shorten the call sign to either,
“SportStar six alpha victor,” or just “SportStar.”
Flight Briefing: Lesson 5
Radio Communications

Who you are:
–
–
The purpose of identifying who we are at nontowered airports is to help other traffic see and
avoid us. Giving our full callsign takes up time,
and contributes nothing to collision avoidance!
Maybe the other traffic doesn’t know what a
SportStar is. But, they probably know an LSA is a
slow, low-performance aircraft (and thus, can
anticipate your behavior in the pattern). It may tell
them more to merely identify as “Light Sport.”
Flight Briefing: Lesson 5
Radio Communications

Who you are:
–
–
In highly congested airspace (say, flying into or out
of a major fly-in or airshow), it’s especially
important to keep transmissions clear and concise.
If you want to make sure other traffic knows exactly
who you are, you can make it easy for them to
pick you out of the crowd by identifying yourself
with a physical description, such as “blue lowwing,” “silver high wing,” or “red biplane.” (Here at
Lock Haven, we hear mostly “yellow Cub.”)
Flight Briefing: Lesson 5
Radio Communications

Where you are/what you’re doing/what you want
–
In these parts of the transmission, you are just giving
your position and intentions. If you are in the traffic
pattern, it is understood you are going to land unless
you say otherwise, so simply report which leg of the
pattern you are on and for which runway, “Right
downwind runway two seven right.” If you are not in
the pattern or if you are doing something in the pattern
other than landing, also include your intentions, “Four
miles east, entering left downwind for runway nine
left,” or “Upwind runway two seven, departing pattern
to the west.”
Flight Briefing: Lesson 5
Radio Communications

Who you are calling
–
–
At the end of your transmission, repeat who your
call was intended for, in case the beginning of
your transmission was not heard or was cut off.
Remember, multiple airports often share a
Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF) and
can hear each other’s transmissions. Lock
Haven, Bellfonte, Bloomsburg, Wellsboro, and
University Park, for example, all use 122.8 MHz,
and you will often hear their traffic, and vice
versa. Best to make sure there’s no confusion!
Flight Briefing: Lesson 5
Radio Communications

Practice (and not just in the air!)
–
For example, while driving home from the airport,
you might say out loud:
 “Jersey Shore traffic, gray Pontiac eastbound
on Route 220, exiting at the Main Street ramp,
proceeding southbound, Jersey Shore.”
Flight Briefing: Lesson 5
Radio Communications

Practice (and not just in the air!)
–
For example, when you get home from your flight
lesson, you might say out loud:
 “Williamsport family, student pilot returning
from lesson, entering the kitchen for ham and
potato dinner, Williamsport.”
Flight Briefing: Lesson 5
Radio Communications

Practice (and not just in the air!)
–
For example, entering church for choir practice,
you might say out loud:
 “First Lutheran choir director, second tenor
arriving at choir room, for practicing Handel’s
Messiah, First Lutheran.”
Flight Briefing: Lesson 5
Radio Communications

Practice (and not just in the air!)
–
For example, at work, you might say out loud:
 “High Tech Corporation pointy-haired boss,
Dilbert arriving in conference room, preparing
to sleep through the staff meeting, High Tech.”
Flight Briefing: Lesson 5
Radio Communications

Practice (and not just in the air!)
–
For example, at the fast food drive-through, you
might say out loud:
 “McDonald’s minimum wage employee, blue
mini-van, holding short of the menu board, for
a Big Mac, medium fries, and large sweet tea,
to go, McDonald’s.”
Flight Briefing: Lesson 5
Radio Communications

Practice (and not just in the air!)
–
For example, arriving at my flight school for a
lesson, you might say out loud:
 “AvSport flight instructor, your best student
now arriving in Hangar One, preparing to
impress you with my radio communications
skills, AvSport.”
Flight Briefing: Lesson 5
Radio Communications

Practice (and not just in the air!)
Yes, folks will look at you
as though you are crazy.
But, that’s part of the fun
of becoming a member of
this elite community of
aviators!
Flight Briefing: Lesson 5
Radio Communications

Common courtesies:
–
–
–
Don’t transmit on top of another transmission. This is called
“stepping on” another pilot’s position report and will cause radio
interference (unintelligible/annoying noises) and prevent either
report from being heard.
Don’t interrupt important two-way dialogue. If two pilots are
entering the pattern and communicating back and forth to try
and find each other, don’t break in to announce that you’re on
the ground crossing a runway; let important communications
have priority.
Don’t carry on conversations not relevant to flight with other
pilots. It is tempting to ask friends how they are doing, or to yell
at another pilot for inventing a new way of doing things. DON’T
DO IT! Use the frequency for its intended purpose, nothing
else.
Flight Briefing: Lesson 5
Radio Communications

Common courtesies:
–
–
DO: Communicate any safety related information
to other pilots, i.e. let a pilot know if something
appears to be wrong with his or her aircraft
(airworthiness concerns, not bad paint). Or, if you
see two aircraft converging on each other, try to
let them know.
Safety is everyone’s responsibility - including
yours!
Flight Briefing: Lesson 5
Radio Communications

And, most important:
–
Although it aids in collision avoidance, radio
communications is your lowest priority. If you
become overwhelmed with too many tasks,
FLY THE AIRPLANE FIRST!
Flight Briefing: Lesson 5
Review Questions

List the five items included in a standard radio call (in order).

Which of these is the statement “Lock Haven Traffic”?

Which of these is “holding short, runway 9L”?

Which one is “Blue and white high-wing”?

Which is “Staying in the pattern”?

When should you say who you’re calling?
Write down your answers before
continuing to next slide
Flight Briefing: Lesson 5
Review Answers






List the five items included in a standard radio call (in order).
Who you’re calling, who you are, where you are, what you’re doing,
what you want.
Which of these is the statement “Lock Haven Traffic”?
Who you’re calling.
Which of these is “holding short, runway 9L”?
Where you are and what you’re doing.
Which one is “Blue and white high-wing”?
Who you are.
Which is “Staying in the pattern”?
What you want.
When should you say who you’re calling? At beginning and end.
Review any missed questions before
continuing to today’s flight.
Flight Briefing: Lesson 5
On Today’s Flight






Try to fly the traffic pattern correctly.
Announce your intentions before takeoff.
Make position reports with every turn in the
traffic pattern.
Report when clear of the runway.
Use proper radio communications procedures.
Don’t drop the airplane to fly the microphone!
Thanks to Mid Island Air Service, Inc.
Brookhaven, NY (Michael Bellenir, CFI)
Flight Briefing: Lesson 5