Comments on: Freaking on the Frequency

By: TOM WHALEN

TOM WHALEN — Tue, 20 May 2008 01:19:07 +0000

THOSE SEEMINGLY IMPORTANT WORDS “ANY TRAFFIC IN THE PATTERN, PLEASE ADVISE” SHOULD NEVER BE USED.

WE’RE NOT CHIMPS, AND I DON’T NEED A INVITATION IN ORDER TO REPORT MY POSITION IN THE PATTERN. THANKYOU!

By: young gun

young gun — Mon, 19 May 2008 21:10:27 +0000

Does anyone know….? Is it true that towered airports are suppose to have a different unicom freq? I.e. Unicom being 122.95 (unicom for towered airports)My home base airport is still using 122.725 despite having an open control tower. We have several surounding airports that use 122.725 as there CTAF/unicom. Anybody know the answer?

By: John M. Lloyd

John M. Lloyd — Mon, 19 May 2008 14:44:40 +0000

Keep it short….AND Listen-up!!

By: Dave MC

Dave MC — Mon, 19 May 2008 14:06:48 +0000

The only time I’ve had a problem is when some body does NOT talk.
Some is better than none!

By: donald Miller

donald Miller — Mon, 19 May 2008 02:27:32 +0000

With new, better radios (430/530) the range is now a problem at KVDF, where I’m based, Aircraft from several other airports within 75 miles are easily heard with position in the pattern clearly reported but not which airport they are located. It leads to a lot of tense moments to hear someone MAY be in the same position you are in to then find out they are many miles away or never knowing where they are . I repeatedly announce position when approaching an airport and ALWAYS report Centurion/midfield/right or left downwind/runway#/airport when in the pattern, plus normal reporting points in the pattern. The airplane I own was in a midair in that position before I bought it, both pilots survived but mine has a new wing, the other aircraft was totaled.

By: john toledo

john toledo — Sun, 18 May 2008 09:05:24 +0000

Gee : I’m one of those pro’s that use to make those “all traffic please advise calls. Boy am I embarrassed.

I think we should call 5 miles out and and entering the pattern, be it downwind, crosswind, base entry, and or straight in. On straight ins I think you should call a mimnimum of 2miles out depending on your type aircraft. You should always announce your type aircraft but your N number is unnecessary.

Thanks John T

By: Marilyn Emery

Marilyn Emery — Sat, 17 May 2008 05:15:54 +0000

When approaching a non-towered airport with an instrument approach, you must be alert for incoming IFR traffic. They may have just switched to the CTAF. They have not heard previous traffic reports. Thus, concise position reports by VFR traffic at downwind, base and final are important.

When approaching a non-towered airport VFR, just listening is not enough. What if several planes are approaching, all listening? Not hearing anyone report, all assume they are the only ones in the pattern. Again, concise reports of downwind, base and final are important. In this case, even the report at the 45 degree entry could be extremely important.

By: Joe Owens

Joe Owens — Fri, 16 May 2008 21:57:07 +0000

Announcing that one is a Cessna does NOTHING to help with situational awareness. Was that a Cessna Citation or a C152? When flying a 182 I am a Skylane, a 172 I am a Skyhawk… This is much more informative about what speed I may be flying either during approach or in the pattern and would indicate to others what to expect. A call such as… “podunk airport, Skyhawk 72H, 5 miles North landing X runway” is much better than “Cessna”

By: Tony Johnstone

Tony Johnstone — Fri, 16 May 2008 19:23:28 +0000

Agree with the “cut down the calls” crowd. I teach my students to make a call 5 miles out, downwind, and final, then clear of runway. Short, concise, announce WHO you are talking to, i.e. Podunk traffic, Who you are, Cessna 83G, WHERE, 5 West, WHAT you are doing, entering downwind 22, and give the field name at the end as, indeed, most folks may not catch it the first time. Also, another pet peeve (second only to the “All traffic, please advise” operators), speak clearly and precisely, believe me, no one is going to think you are Chuck Yeager just because you rattle off your transmission so fast nobody can understand it!

By: Henry Joyner

Henry Joyner — Fri, 16 May 2008 19:18:08 +0000

I fly almost everyday as an DPE and corporate pilot. I call 122.8 the learning channel. The major problem is not chit chat, as I hear very little of that. The real problem is frequency polution. Why does every student, private pilot, and/or flight instructor get in the pattern for an hour and make a position report on every segment of the pattern. If you are going to stay in the pattern a report on downwind should be sufficent unless someone else calls in approaching the airport. So a less expensive solution to the problem is to teach pilots to talk less (not total silence) and listen more. While my applicants make all the radio calls seldon are they able to tell me the last transmission on the frequecy. It’s only aviation not rocket science, and a little common sense goes a long ways to safety.