Timing is Everything in ATC Communication

Radar Contact

Two people speaking to each other at the same time does not communication make. It’s true in a face-to-face encounter and it’s true when trying to communicate with ATC. When 2 pilots try to transmit at the same time, the result is just a bunch of noise on the radio. In this show, we are going to discuss techniques for getting your timing right when communicating with ATC.

The times they are a-changing. The FAA published changes to the Air Traffic Controller’s Manual on April 3. What’s in there that is relevant to you? We’ll discuss it in our show.

Mayday, versus Pan. Those codewords have been getting a lot of attention lately at ATCcommunication.com, probably due to the intense scrutiny of Malaysia Flight 370. We’ll review the use of Mayday and Pan; why those words are rarely used in U.S aviation; and what most pilots say instead.

Timing is everything, which means it’s time to talk about timing. This time, it’s 22 minutes and 3 seconds of audio enlightenment, also known as Radio Contact.

Show Notes:

1. Communication is an exchange of information. An exchange of verbal communication requires a talker and a listener.
2. Who talks and who listens depends on timing. If 2 people try to talk at the same time, a consequence of bad timing, that ain’t communication.
3. Aircraft radio communication is very intolerant of bad timing. When 2 pilots try to talk at the same time, their transmissions will cancel each other out.
4. When switching to a new radio frequency, listen for 3 seconds to make sure there is no ongoing conversation.
5. If the radio is silent during those first 3 seconds, you may transmit your own radio call with the reasonable expectation you will not block or interrupt another conversation.
6. If there is a gap between a pilot’s request and ATC’s response, some impatient pilots will transmit into the gap.
7. Sometimes, competition for available air time on the radio becomes so intense, several pilots trying to get in a word on the radio sounds like a food fight.
8. Don’t be drawn into a food fight on the radio. It is a battle no one wins. Find a way to wait for the fight to end before making your own radio call to ATC.
9. You are never required to read back assigned radio frequencies to ATC.
10. If you do read back a frequency, give ATC 2 to 3 seconds to respond before switching to the new fequency in case you misheard the assignment.
11. The latest version of the Air Traffic Controller’s Manual became effective on April 3, 2014. Here is a link to J.O. 7110.65V. There are no specific changes to ATC procedures in this edition that affect VFR flight.
12. Version 2.0 of the Aircraft Radio Simulator went online a little more than 1 week ago.
13. The latest version has real-time simulated air traffic control. A tower controller gives you instructions based on your current position in an airport traffic pattern.
14. Please send me feedback on the Aircraft Radio Simulator Ver. 2.0 by writing to me at [e-mail]
15. Mayday and Panoth are codewords used to grab attention on the radio.
16. Mayday is reserved for life-threatening situations. Pan is used for urgent but non-life-threatening situations.
17. If you are already talking to ATC, there is no need to use Mayday or Pan. The Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM) says you may simply state your situation, intentions, and request for assistance.
18. While you are never wrong to use Mayday in a distress situation, in the U.S. most air traffic controllers and pilots use the phrase, “Declaring an emergency” to request priority handling.

Your Question of the Week:

You are flying VFR cross-country while using ATC for flight following. The enroute controller says to you, “Cessna 9130 Delta, for further flight following, contact Kansas City Center on 128.75.” You read back 128.75 and pause 3 seconds before making the frequency change. The controller does not correct your read back during those 3 seconds so you feel your read back was correct. Once you have the new frequency tuned in you hear ATC talking to another pilot. So you wait.

When it seems the current conversation is over, you start to press the push-to-talk button for your microphone so you can check in with the new controller. Before you can press the button, you hear another pilot start a conversation with the controller. This pilot is asking about flight conditions ahead. The controller tells the pilot he’ll check and to stand by.

Several seconds pass in radio silence and you assume the controller is offline to get the information the pilot asked for. While you patiently honor the radio silence, another pilot checks in on the frequency. ATC answers the new pilot.

More silence. You start to press the push-to-talk switch when ATC comes back online and gives a report of flight conditions to the pilot who asked for it. As soon as ATC finishes the report, the pilot makes a request for a change of altitudes. A back and forth conversation goes on between the pilot and ATC about the altitude change. By now you figure you have probably flown at least 15 or 20 miles into the next controller’s sector.

Here’s your question, and it is multiple choice. Should you:

1. Press on course, hoping you will eventually get in touch with ATC; or
2. Should you start orbiting your present location until you can talk to ATC; or
3. Should you return to your last radio frequency and tell the previous controller you are unable to contact the next controller.

When you think you know the answer to this question, go to ATCcommunication.com/answers. There you will find the correct answer along with a complete explanation of how that answer was derived.