PilotEdge Forums

Is it ever ok to ident without being requested to by atc?

Like say you've been vectored towards a localizer, or radial, or are approaching a class b boundary.
Radio traffic is busy, can't get a word in, about to blow by your target.

Seems an ident would get the controllers attention without interrupting current coms.
They'd probably realized what's up and issue a turn to intercept or a clearance.

But is it ok to do that in Real life or PE? Is there a better way to handle such situations?

Cheers.

The quick answer is “No.”
The only time a pilot should ident is when instructed to do so by ATC for a particular reason, (RADAR identification, suspected radio failure, etc.)

If the controller is so busy that you can’t get a word in, then indenting won’t help.
If the ident happens to be seen, the controller will likely be distracted by it rather than acknowledging it.
If you’re vectored toward a localizer, radial, airway, etc., and have not received any further instructions, then query the controller. (AIM 5-4-3b.)
Sometimes this means being aggressive, particularly if you’re beginning to cross the radial, airway or final approach course.
(And it’s even more crucial when flying IMC and in areas of higher terrain.)
For class Bravo, you’re required to remain outside until specifically cleared into the Bravo. The onus is on you to remain clear of Bravo. (AIM 3-2-3/D/2/a)

This applies to both real world and P/E.

Mudhen wrote:The quick answer is “No.”
Sometimes this means being aggressive, particularly if you’re beginning to cross the radial, airway or final approach course.
(And it’s even more crucial when flying IMC and in areas of higher terrain.)
For class Bravo, you’re required to remain outside until specifically cleared into the Bravo. The onus is on you to remain clear of Bravo. (AIM 3-2-3/D/2/a)

This applies to both real world and P/E.

I wasn't the one to ask this question but very thankful for this answer. I have been reminded of this point (where the onus lies) on several occasions and very glad to be learning it now in this safe environment on PE so I will be more prepared and confident during RW flights.

Such a tremendous wealth of knowledge on this forum

wisner wrote:Is it ever ok to ident without being requested to by atc?

Like say you've been vectored towards a localizer, or radial, or are approaching a class b boundary.
Radio traffic is busy, can't get a word in, about to blow by your target.

Seems an ident would get the controllers attention without interrupting current coms.
They'd probably realized what's up and issue a turn to intercept or a clearance.

But is it ok to do that in Real life or PE? Is there a better way to handle such situations?

Cheers.

Hi, I just found this on a PE member video from this past Saturday... Go directly to 1:15:40 and listen to SoCal APP controller instruct (a different) pilot on this EXACT issue
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZhRLJBZHeQ

Thanks for the replies.
What mudhen says makes sense too me.
I was actually given this advice by a rw cfi casually(not while acting as my cfi).
Like 'hey, if you ever need to get atc attention and the radio is super busy, just ident. they'll see whats up and give you your belated instructions'. My paraphrase, and he did qualify it with a 'you didn't hear this from me but...'
It makes some sense, and it would economize radio calls.
I tried it once, on PE while on flight following fast approaching a class b boundary, and immediately felt dirty and started a 360.
It *DID* work in a way cause controller called and asked what the ident was for. Having just started my turn and feeling rather sheepish, i pretended the ident was a mistake. Then, at an optimally awkward angle between 90 and 180 to my intended course he cleared me into the bravo.
I partly think that when he asked, I should have just owned it and requested clearance into the bravo.
I does seem like the PE controllers are a bit trollish during the CAT tests...which is fine, i'm learning valuable lessons.
Still, i wonder if in the RW, a controller might have recognized the situation, issued a clearance, and appreciated one less call from a slow mumbly vfr pilot.
But i have deleted this from my brain as an option.

Cheers.

A scenario that happened just today.

I had an aircraft who happened to go lost coms. I was trying to reach the aircraft to provide a new instruction and was not receiving a readback. I said on frequency that I was not receiving a reply, however if the pilot could hear me to IDENT. What do you know? After about 10 seconds, I saw an IDENT. Great! I could still give an instruction to get the aircraft to his destination. One problem, he wasn't following the instructions. I can now only assume he wanted me to see he was lost coms which is completely unnecessary. He squawked 7600 which is good enough.

Don't IDENT unless it's requested.

Beating a dead horse?

I have experience especially on startup that voice sometimes doesn't work. I can hear anyone but no one hears me. The solution is a restart of the client. Is it a common bug in the system maybe?