If ATC Does Not Initiate Switch to Advisory

Questions and comments about the PE Pilot Training Program
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luckyb52
Posts: 52
Joined: Fri Jun 06, 2014 9:18 pm

If ATC Does Not Initiate Switch to Advisory

Post by luckyb52 »

Hi All,

When on an IFR flight and arriving at a non-towered airport, if ATC does not advise the pilot to switch to advisory, is it OK for the pilot to initiate the frequency change by saying, "SoCal approach, N331CB is switching to advisory."?

Thanks in advance for your advice!

Lucky :)
Kevin_atc
Posts: 2039
Joined: Sat Nov 13, 2010 7:01 pm

Re: If ATC Does Not Initiate Switch to Advisory

Post by Kevin_atc »

Once you’re ready for the switch, just request it. But NEVER just switch on your own or without acknowledgement from ATC.
Kevin
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luckyb52
Posts: 52
Joined: Fri Jun 06, 2014 9:18 pm

Re: If ATC Does Not Initiate Switch to Advisory

Post by luckyb52 »

Kevin_atc wrote:Once you’re ready for the switch, just request it. But NEVER just switch on your own or without acknowledgement from ATC.
Thanks, Kevin. More specifically, instead of asking, can it be informing, ie, instead of "N123AB requests frequency change to advisory" can it be "N123AB is switching over to advisory." In the case of the latter, ATC would reply with the same words as in the former.

Your thoughts?

Best,

Lucky
Kevin_atc
Posts: 2039
Joined: Sat Nov 13, 2010 7:01 pm

Re: If ATC Does Not Initiate Switch to Advisory

Post by Kevin_atc »

luckyb52 wrote:
Kevin_atc wrote:Once you’re ready for the switch, just request it. But NEVER just switch on your own or without acknowledgement from ATC.
Thanks, Kevin. More specifically, instead of asking, can it be informing, ie, instead of "N123AB requests frequency change to advisory" can it be "N123AB is switching over to advisory." In the case of the latter, ATC would reply with the same words as in the former.

Your thoughts?

Best,

Lucky
What’s the difference between saying that and requesting it? Both require ATC to respond and you to once again read it back. I think that your proposed method could result in ATC lecturing you about how that’s not your decision. You should probably just make it in a request format instead.
Kevin
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zerofay32
Posts: 131
Joined: Tue Aug 19, 2014 8:34 am
Location: Grove City, Ohio

Re: If ATC Does Not Initiate Switch to Advisory

Post by zerofay32 »

luckyb52 wrote:
Kevin_atc wrote:Once you’re ready for the switch, just request it. But NEVER just switch on your own or without acknowledgement from ATC.
Thanks, Kevin. More specifically, instead of asking, can it be informing, ie, instead of "N123AB requests frequency change to advisory" can it be "N123AB is switching over to advisory." In the case of the latter, ATC would reply with the same words as in the former.

Your thoughts?

Best,

Lucky
You still have to get permission to switch frequencies whether you ask or inform. So it's just better to be polite about it and request the change. As a pilot you don't know if there is a reason the controller is holding on letting you make the switch.
Last edited by zerofay32 on Tue Aug 17, 2021 5:11 am, edited 1 time in total.
Andrew Fay
PilotEdge V-3; CAT-11; I-11; Skyhigh 10
Commercial Pilot/Instrument ASEL/AMEL- KOSU / Commercial sUAS
luckyb52
Posts: 52
Joined: Fri Jun 06, 2014 9:18 pm

Re: If ATC Does Not Initiate Switch to Advisory

Post by luckyb52 »

zerofay32 wrote:
You still have to get permission to switch frequencies whether to ask or inform. So it's just better to be polite about it and request the change. As a pilot you don't know if there is a reason the controller is holding on letting you make the switch.

Thanks for that input, Andrew, much appreciated, especially since it's coming from a real-world pilot :D


Best

Lucky
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