Multiple controllers heard simultaneously

[tcarney]

I understand that the controller I'm communicating with is working other frequencies and I'll be able to hear them speaking on those frequencies, but should I be hearing multiple controllers at once? On a flight just now, I got handed off from Mugu approach to a different controller at Camarillo tower. When I switched frequencies (all on com 1), I could then hear both controllers speaking at once, and had to have the tower repeat some instructions. Is this normal?

[Kevin_atc]

You experienced controller training in action where the instructor overrode his student. While you won't hear it every day, this is a common occurrence in the real world as the majority of training that air traffic controllers go through is live on-the-job training where their instructor is sitting right next to them ready to fix anything that needs fixing. This was not a technical error, both controllers were transmitting on the frequency that you were tuned to.

[tcarney]

Gotcha, thanks for the clarification. I was also having other issues with the audio (between my headset and external speakers), as this was one of my first flights on PE, so wanted to make sure I didn't have anything configured incorrectly.

[Ryan B]

In the real world the instructors voice would override the person in training - at least that's how ours work.

[tcarney]

Well I did hear the instructor take over at one point (though the trainee seemed to be doing fine), but initially, I switched to the tower frequency and was talking to him, but I could still hear the last controller I was with speaking to other pilots on the approach frequency. That's why I had to have the tower controller repeat something, which may have been what prompted the trainer to jump on.

[Keith Smith]

The instructor may have been working the approach position while working with the trainee on tower. This would've required the use of 3 push to talk buttons (one for approach, one for the tower override, one for the controller to controller communication). It could've been that the instructor pushed the wrong button and hit the tower override instead of the approach ptt.

[tcarney]

Ah, that makes sense. I imagine it can get hectic juggling that many frequencies simultaneously.