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Aircraft Color in Place of Call Sign is a Bad Idea
“Town and Country Traffic, red and white Skyhawk, 4-mile final, Runway One Seven, Town and Country.” “Town and Country Traffic, blue and white Warrior, turning base, Runway One Seven, Town and Country.” “Town and Country Traffic, red and white Skyhawk, final, Runway One Seven, Town and Country.” Do you think saying your aircraft’s color scheme
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Taxi Clearance Anxiety
If you have ever felt butterflies in your stomach when faced with contacting Ground Control for taxi clearance, you have experienced something I call Taxi Clearance Anxiety. It’s a made-up term but the phenomenon has real consequences. Some pilots go out of their way to avoid controlled airports with complicated taxiway layouts. Even high-time pro
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Listen for Your Call Sign
“Cessna 9130 Delta, Oakland Center, radio check,” says the controller. “Cessna 9130 Delta, loud and clear,” the pilot answers. “Cessna 9130,” says the controller, “that was my third attempt to call you. If you want to continue with flight following, you’re going to have to listen for your call sign.” Why didn’t the pilot answer
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Telling ATC Traffic Identified on ADS-B
Updated 27 January 2017. Yesterday, I published an article about what to say to ATC when you have identified traffic on your onboard ADS-B screen. Based on feedback from several air traffic controllers, who all responded similarly, I’m going to change my recommendation. Previously, I said when ATC points out traffic and you notice the
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Telling ATC Traffic Identified on TIS-B
What follows is a technique. There is no guidance in the Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM) about how to respond on the radio for the following situation. ATC points out traffic to you. Houston Center: “Skyhawk 9130 Delta, traffic 1 o’clock, seven miles, southeast bound, a Beech 1900 at 5,000.” You see the traffic on the
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Using ATC to Check the Status of a MOA
Is it safe to fly through a Military Operations Area (MOA)? It depends. A pilot named Drew recently asked me if I had any advice about how to contact ATC to check the status of a MOA. Here’s what I told him. [powerpress] Show Resources Aeronautical Information Manual 3−4−5. Military Operations Areas c. Pilots operating
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