PilotEdge Forums

Hello pilots and controllers,

I’m a bit new to pilotedge and wanted to ask few questions:

1. I noticed that a lot of times, when I’m taking off, I’m not getting any pattern instructions from the controller. (with or without flight following)
For example, on my initial contact with ground/delivery I’m reporting I will fly to the east but when taking off from runway 27, I’m not getting any instructions to take a right or left traffic pattern.
Is that normal? What should I do in that situation?

2. If I’m not requesting a flight following or traffic advisories, why am
I receiving a squeak code and a departure frequency?

3. When approaching an airport, how can I listen to the ATIS frequency if I have to keep monitor the tower/approach frequency? (In case I cannot listen to both comm 1 and comm 2 at the same time)

Also, what should I listen to if there is no ATIS but only AWOS?

Thanks so much!

Hi Tom(?),

I will try to answer these, even though I am still new enough myself that I am not 100% certain and would ask anybody more knowledgeable to correct me if I am wrong please!

1) Since you either said which way you want to depart to or even requested flight following the controller knows where you will be heading. It is only in case of them not wanting you to turn directly towards that destination after your initial climb that they will give you instructions. (Like "left downwind departure" or similar). If they don't tell you anything feel free to turn towards your destination after your initial climb. This is one of the advantages of a towered airport.

2) This will most likely happen in a class Bravo or Charlie airspace or a TRSA. The controller wants to identify you while in her airspace. Once you leave that airspace they will let you off the hook and you are free to "squawk VFR and resume own navigation".

3) Two possibilities. I always listen to ATIS on my second radio while still listening to ATC on the first radio. Only difficulty is that if you get an instruction while listeing to ATIS you might have to ask them to repeat as it will be hard to understand. Not an issue though. Or you can always "request to change frequency to get the weather". They will usually be okay with that and ask you to report back once you have the weather.

If there is no ATIS I usually just dial in the closest ATIS I can find.

Again: I am by no means 100% sure I am right. Let's see what somebody with more knowledge says. But I hope I am not too far off...

Henrik

I am by no means an expert either with only about a year on PE myself but as far as the departure, unless given a 'left downwind departure', or the like, it is expected you follow current FAA recommendations and that is a straight-out or 45° away from the field at the end of the runway.
They are usually pretty good about giving you the best departure for you flight unless terrain or traffic.

Hope this helps.

And as always, the best thing about this forum is any wrong answers WILL be corrected and then we ALL learn something!

Thanks for the replies!

When posted those questions I basically meant to Class C and Class D airspaces.

Also, I don't have the option to listen to 2 frequencies at the same time, or maybe I don't know how, I'm using the default C172 that comes in X-Plane 10 and couldn't find a way to do it..

If someone can put more light on this I will appreciate it!

Thanks again!