Non-towered communications - tail number?

[Jeff N]

Just wondering whether people use their tail number when making radio calls at non-towered fields or if you just say color and type. The latter seems more common (and useful, since even in the r/w there's no way I can read someone's tail number when I'm on downwind and they're on a 2 mile final) but I'm curious about what everyone here does.

[Keith Smith]

the tail number is in the comms so someone can address you in the radio if there are multiple aircraft of same make and model.

I use a shortened callsign when flying a common type, or just the model if there is no apparent conflict.

[rgrazian]

Hi Jeff,

AIM section 4-1-9 has some good stuff on Non-towered airport operations. I also added a link from an AOPA safety advisor.

http://www.aopa.org/asf/publications/sa08.pdf

[Jeff N]

Great AOPA link Rob, thanks for that.

Another related question: if pilots are to announce on the CTAF from 10 miles out, how would one do that in a situation such as approaching KCCB from the southwest, where it's surrounded by Ontario's charlie and Brackett's delta? If you didn't have flight following, you'd have to be calling up either one for the transition right around the 10 mile mark unless you want to hug the mountains to the north or to overfly the charlie at 5500 and make a quick descent to TPA, neither of which seem ideal.

http://skyvector.com/?ll=34.08988265525 ... 114&zoom=3

[Keith Smith]

if you're approaching from SW, I'd attempt to monitor the CTAF on COM2 if workload permitted. I'd transition the Bracket Delta and request early freq change to start talking on the CTAF asap.

[Jeff N]

Makes sense. Thanks, Keith.

[Ryan B]

I've started using color and type of plane, instead of callsign. I guess I'd use callsign if I was flying a white cessna or cirrus hehe. I find color and or type to be more useful (especially when flying something like a yellow RV or red cirrus), and in real life some people call with this combination too.