Just starting out
- Thread starter peyton
- Start date
exneophyte
Well-Known Member
PPL Student here. In ground school we did a tour of the KFCM tower. They said if you were solo, there was nothing wrong with declaring something to the effect of "Student pilot NXXXXX .....ready for takeoff". They said it depended on the controller, but many of them would speak a little slower to help you out or would be a little more lenient if you weren't totally up to speed on the communications.
So far, there have been a few times where I have been frazzled for some reason and couldn't get the right information out and my instructor just took care of that transmission.
genot
Well-Known Member
Absolutely say student pilot, or in later stages (depending on how far you take your training) something to that effect when flying without an instructor that represents your level of knowledge that might be limited in the current situation/conditions.
If you're flying out of a controlled field, dealing with us will be second nature. If not, I'd ask to include a few more flights than normal into controlled fields. When it comes time to fly by yourself flight following is a great tool unless its a trip you've done over and over. Most of all never hesitate to call us for help or assistance. Its what we're here for. Probably more people in ATC have flying experience more than any other profession (excluding professional pilots obviously). There is a good chance you're talking to someone who understands your problem and has been in your shoes.
If you're flying out of a controlled field, dealing with us will be second nature. If not, I'd ask to include a few more flights than normal into controlled fields. When it comes time to fly by yourself flight following is a great tool unless its a trip you've done over and over. Most of all never hesitate to call us for help or assistance. Its what we're here for. Probably more people in ATC have flying experience more than any other profession (excluding professional pilots obviously). There is a good chance you're talking to someone who understands your problem and has been in your shoes.
Autothrust Blue
“If you jump on my shift, that’s just rude, man.”
Pilot here: If you think you need help, don't hesitate to ask for it. If you need something repeated back, don't hesitate to say, "Say again." The other side of the microphone has helped me out of a tight situation a few times without any additional muss or fuss.
Prino
Well-Known Member
The main thing is that you should never hesitate to say "say again" or just flat out say I don't understand, and in some cases even unable. We can use plain language if needed. I'd rather have to explain Something or have a pilot ask for clarification before they just say "roger" and go off and do something else that doesn't fit into my plan. Unless you're flying into a super busy airport most of us are used to dealing with general aviation pilots, and weekend warriors and their lack of proficiency compared to professional pilots.
