Interaction
Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2016 12:16 am
I work as an instructor pilot for General Dynamics. I train military pilots. I recall one night when doing pattern work with a student. It was overnight shift and we normally got cleared the option since we were just turning the pattern. One of the main areas where my students struggle is making radio calls. They stumble, they mix up words. So to help them get comfortable, I have them call "On the go" when taking off from a stop-n-go, just so they get comfortable on the radio. So one night, my student calls "on the go" on a takeoff. The tower controller comes back, "TITAN 12, YOU HAVE YOUR CLEARANCE, YOU DON'T HAVE TO SAY "ON THE GO" EVERY DAMN TIME!" So after the flight, I walked to the tower and explained the radio calls issue with students to the tower controller.
Having grown up in SoCal, I'm familiar with many real world operations. Having flow jump planes and tankers, I'm familiar with those operations so I sometimes try to bring a level of realism to the PE program without over burdening the controllers. On occasion, I'll fly a skydive jump plane out of CA89. It gives me stick & rudder practice & engine out practice, it gives the controller practice, but I stay in a confined area so it's easy practice for the controller.
One day in June 2016, I decided to fly this run on PE. I get airborne, and switch to 134.0. I check in with the socal controller just as I used to in the real world. The controller comes back, "Munshine 1, why are you calling me?" I respond back that FAR's and the chart and my real world experience say to. He fires back, "Munshine 1, you're an untowered airfield, you have no business calling me!" You could hear the indignation in his voice. So I decided not to respond....continued my flight.
So I go back to 14 CFR 105 and I refresh my memory:
https://www.faasafety.gov/gslac/ALC/lib ... px?id=7721
Requires skydivers to observe visual flight rules (VFR) conditions. Below 10,000 feet, the pilot must have three miles of visibility and at least 500 feet below, 1,000 feet above, and 2,000 feet horizontally from a cloud. At and above 10,000 feet, the rules require five miles of visibility and 1,000 feet below, 1,000 feet above, and one mile horizontally.
Holds the pilot responsible for jumps that create a hazard to air traffic or persons, or property on the ground.
Requires prior permission from an airport manager before jumping over or onto an airport.
Requires ATC authorization when jumping into Class A, B, C, or D airspace. Prior to jumping into Class E and G airspace, the appropriate ATC facility must simply be notified beforehand.
Requires radio communications with the appropriate ATC facility at least 5 minutes prior to the jump. This requirement is primarily intended to allow the jump pilot to receive information from ATC about known traffic in the area. It is best to make the call soon after takeoff for radar coverage. (That's where I checked in)
Radio Calls to ATC
A jump pilot must make radio contact with the ATC facility that has jurisdiction of the airspace at the intended jump-run altitude. After initial contact, ATC will issue a transponder code and most will request a two-minute jump run call, although it can vary. ATC also wants a "jumpers away" call. Some will require a "jumpers on the ground" call.
If the pilot can continue to monitor the ATC frequency, it is advisable to also make the same advisory announcements on the CTAF frequency, if skydiving onto an airport.
I haven't flown much on Pilotedge lately, my records show that. I've been too busy with real world aviation & family. But I still pay my monthly because I believe PE is a great idea, and great training. I'm supporting it even though I don't use it.
Sometimes I log on and just park and listen. Get a feel for things....I've noticed something since the beginnings of PE.
Some of the controllers have developed what is termed in the military as a "sharpshooter" mentality. Their focus is more on showing how correct and knowledgeable they are than actually helping the pilot. They fire verbal shots at pilots to demonstrate their knowledge.
It's pretty obvious to the casual listener that most PE pilots are not real world. They are paying money for a service to help them learn and understand. As a real world instructor pilot, you cant beat up your student like that. The fear of flying is enough. You have to build them up, help them learn.
PilotEdge is a paid service. You think I wanna fork out cash to get verbally ripped every flight by one particular controller?...Maybe I should structure my flights around THAT controller. Maybe I should just cut off the funds and go to VATSIM....it's free.
There are times when a pilot needs to be addressed, I agree. But tact is the key. The controller tone of voice can mean the difference between a knowledgeable and professional correction to a pilot, or an insulting, demoralizing public display of that pilot's lack of knowledge.
This is a paid service. You all provide a GREAT service. But be good stewards of that service. In the online world, text and words lack voice inflex. Your voice inflex lacks text. Be mindful of your intentions and emotions when dressing down a pilot. In the real world, he's beholden to YOU, the FAA. In PilotEdge, he's free to spend his money elsewhere.
Service to the customer, yet strive for excellence.
Tony Rogers
Aircraft Commander
Instructor Pilot
General Dynamics - Contractor
B Co. 2nd Battalion 13th Aviation Regiment
1st Aviation Brigade, US Army
Ft, Huachuca, AZ
Having grown up in SoCal, I'm familiar with many real world operations. Having flow jump planes and tankers, I'm familiar with those operations so I sometimes try to bring a level of realism to the PE program without over burdening the controllers. On occasion, I'll fly a skydive jump plane out of CA89. It gives me stick & rudder practice & engine out practice, it gives the controller practice, but I stay in a confined area so it's easy practice for the controller.
One day in June 2016, I decided to fly this run on PE. I get airborne, and switch to 134.0. I check in with the socal controller just as I used to in the real world. The controller comes back, "Munshine 1, why are you calling me?" I respond back that FAR's and the chart and my real world experience say to. He fires back, "Munshine 1, you're an untowered airfield, you have no business calling me!" You could hear the indignation in his voice. So I decided not to respond....continued my flight.
So I go back to 14 CFR 105 and I refresh my memory:
https://www.faasafety.gov/gslac/ALC/lib ... px?id=7721
Requires skydivers to observe visual flight rules (VFR) conditions. Below 10,000 feet, the pilot must have three miles of visibility and at least 500 feet below, 1,000 feet above, and 2,000 feet horizontally from a cloud. At and above 10,000 feet, the rules require five miles of visibility and 1,000 feet below, 1,000 feet above, and one mile horizontally.
Holds the pilot responsible for jumps that create a hazard to air traffic or persons, or property on the ground.
Requires prior permission from an airport manager before jumping over or onto an airport.
Requires ATC authorization when jumping into Class A, B, C, or D airspace. Prior to jumping into Class E and G airspace, the appropriate ATC facility must simply be notified beforehand.
Requires radio communications with the appropriate ATC facility at least 5 minutes prior to the jump. This requirement is primarily intended to allow the jump pilot to receive information from ATC about known traffic in the area. It is best to make the call soon after takeoff for radar coverage. (That's where I checked in)
Radio Calls to ATC
A jump pilot must make radio contact with the ATC facility that has jurisdiction of the airspace at the intended jump-run altitude. After initial contact, ATC will issue a transponder code and most will request a two-minute jump run call, although it can vary. ATC also wants a "jumpers away" call. Some will require a "jumpers on the ground" call.
If the pilot can continue to monitor the ATC frequency, it is advisable to also make the same advisory announcements on the CTAF frequency, if skydiving onto an airport.
I haven't flown much on Pilotedge lately, my records show that. I've been too busy with real world aviation & family. But I still pay my monthly because I believe PE is a great idea, and great training. I'm supporting it even though I don't use it.
Sometimes I log on and just park and listen. Get a feel for things....I've noticed something since the beginnings of PE.
Some of the controllers have developed what is termed in the military as a "sharpshooter" mentality. Their focus is more on showing how correct and knowledgeable they are than actually helping the pilot. They fire verbal shots at pilots to demonstrate their knowledge.
It's pretty obvious to the casual listener that most PE pilots are not real world. They are paying money for a service to help them learn and understand. As a real world instructor pilot, you cant beat up your student like that. The fear of flying is enough. You have to build them up, help them learn.
PilotEdge is a paid service. You think I wanna fork out cash to get verbally ripped every flight by one particular controller?...Maybe I should structure my flights around THAT controller. Maybe I should just cut off the funds and go to VATSIM....it's free.
There are times when a pilot needs to be addressed, I agree. But tact is the key. The controller tone of voice can mean the difference between a knowledgeable and professional correction to a pilot, or an insulting, demoralizing public display of that pilot's lack of knowledge.
This is a paid service. You all provide a GREAT service. But be good stewards of that service. In the online world, text and words lack voice inflex. Your voice inflex lacks text. Be mindful of your intentions and emotions when dressing down a pilot. In the real world, he's beholden to YOU, the FAA. In PilotEdge, he's free to spend his money elsewhere.
Service to the customer, yet strive for excellence.
Tony Rogers
Aircraft Commander
Instructor Pilot
General Dynamics - Contractor
B Co. 2nd Battalion 13th Aviation Regiment
1st Aviation Brigade, US Army
Ft, Huachuca, AZ