by Kilstorm » Thu Feb 21, 2019 9:25 am
What would be some radio call examples to use this freq in the real world and the sim for a non-emergency to get intouch with ATC during a hand over or on initial contact? A couple examples from my student pilot lessons where an issues has surfaced was:
1) I was cleared for an approach into Class C Sanford Intl Florida airspace on my first solo xc flight and the radio kinda went silent. The freq I was on didnt match the one on the chart for that visual approach. After a few call attempts on my current APP freq who was covering me with FlightFlo returned unanswered, I switched to the publish APP freq and made a few attempts to reach them prior to entering Class C. I got no response so I returned to the previous controller, did a 180 to stay outside of the Class C and diverted to an uncontrolled field nearby thinking on this rental plane I might of lost radio comms?! A pilot in the pattern at the uncontrolled field said that he could hear my radio check call when I asked so I felt comfortable making the landing using normal uncontrolled radio work.
As for another time
2) I was with a CFI and we had filed an IFR FP in VFR wx to finish my hours needed for my PPL to fly by reference of nav aids on a xc flight from N.C. to S.C. on our flight down from Mass to Fla. After departure from an uncontrolled field, he tried to pick up his IFR clearance with the listed APP controller. For this flight since I was going to be using Foggles he wanted to do the radio work so I believe he used ForeFlight to obtain the APP freq. He did not ever reach an controller on that freq and since I was busy flying the plane I didnt see how he picked a different controller to establish his clearance.
Now both of these examples I would still not want to use 121.5 to overcome my situations but since the 121.5 is a freq that could be used to re-establish two radio comms with the correct controller, I'm wondering what would be some examples of a radio call transmission on the initial call in for a non emergency atc freq request and what would be a following radio call? Would one start with something like what they would when picking up FlightFlo with plane, location and request and use On Guard to establish that it is on the 121.5 freq? Following that would the call be Cessna 123AB is looking for a working channel for my area to contact ATC as Im not reaching what should be the controller listed on my charts?
The one area that PE does do a good job with compared to real world is ATC coverage beyond normal radio range to the ground both from the planes radio and the controllers radio. In my real world flights a few times I've been told by the controller they are having a hard time hearing me because I am on the fringe of their service area with my planes alt and xmiting radio equipment.
Nathan Palmer
Nantucket, MA
