| Now that you have used the Internet to listen to live | | | | way is online pilot shops. |
| Air Traffic Control (ATC) you might be interested in | | | | Okay, what about the helpful strategies? Well, here is |
| how you can learn more about it. | | | | what works for any pilot, flying any size of airplane or |
| Talking on the radio is easy once you understand the | | | | helicopter, at any airport while using either the VFR or |
| system, know what you want to do, and what you | | | | IFR systems: |
| can expect.Proper radio phraseology and a few | | | | (1) Think before You Talk. |
| helpful strategies will do the rest. | | | | Who Am I? Where Am I? What do I want? Be |
| One of the first things your flight instructor wants you | | | | organized and plan ahead. |
| to study is the international phonetic alphabet. What's | | | | (2) Listen before You Talk. |
| that? Just click on [Radio Communication] in the index | | | | Make sure your radio is set properly (volume is up, |
| to yourleft. You will need it when stating your aircraft | | | | frequency correct selected, transmitter switch |
| call sign (e.g. One-Zero-Lima-Golf) or to confirm that | | | | positioned to the radio in use). |
| you have information Juliet. | | | | (3) Read back. |
| Information Juliet, as an example refers to the letter | | | | "Roger" or "Wilco" just doesn't cut it. The controller |
| assigned to a current ATIS (Automated Terminal | | | | wants you to read back his message to confirm that |
| Information Service) which is taped routine information | | | | you understand and will comply with his instructions. |
| you listen to before you make first contact. You'll get | | | | Sounds not too difficult, doesn't it? It's all practice! Learn |
| the ceiling, visibility, temperature, wind, altimeter setting, | | | | from the real thing and you will soon talk like a pro on |
| runway in use. | | | | the radio. |
| Next, you'll learn about words and phrases used in | | | | Finally, if you don'tunderstand a message, ask the |
| talking to air traffic control, which can be the center, | | | | controller to say it again. He will be glad to do so and |
| approach, tower, ground, or a flight service station. | | | | you will fly much longer this way :-) |
| Another subject is frequencies. VHF (very high | | | | You can also say that you are a student pilot. This |
| frequencies, 30 to 300 MHz) is used for voice | | | | signals the controller that you may need a little extra |
| communications. One frequency you will hopefully | | | | help. |
| never need is 121.5 MHz (Emergency only!). | | | | Did you know that you can turn your home computer |
| The Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM) provides | | | | into a radio simulator? You can do it with software |
| you with details and lots of examples for proper radio | | | | you can buy on the web. |
| communication techniques. Where to get it? The best | | | | |