Air Traffic/Pilot Terminology

[[email protected]]

I was recently on a flight where I was able to listen to the Pilots
speak to Air Traffic control. It was quite fascinating but I
understood very little of what they were saying. Does anyone know of
a good resource for their terminology? Also, I was wondering if anyone
knew what the following mean, I heard them used a lot.

Heavy
Bugsy

[kontiki]

wrote:
> I was recently on a flight where I was able to listen to the Pilots
> speak to Air Traffic control. It was quite fascinating but I
> understood very little of what they were saying. Does anyone know of
> a good resource for their terminology? Also, I was wondering if anyone
> knew what the following mean, I heard them used a lot.
>
> Heavy
> Bugsy
>
Not sure what "bugsy" means but it could be an airway intersection.
Intersections are 5 character names which identify a given spot
in the airspace, usually an intersection of VOR radials but can
be other things like an outer marker, etc. etc,

"Heavy" means the aircraft is a large aircraft, like a 747 or
somthing similar. Other than the AIM (Aeronautical Information
Manual) I'm not sure of any other sources for the various terminology
and buzz-words you are looking for. A lot of it has developed
over time and is well understood by experienced pilots.

[Marty Shapiro]

" > wrote in
oups.com:

> I was recently on a flight where I was able to listen to the Pilots
> speak to Air Traffic control. It was quite fascinating but I
> understood very little of what they were saying. Does anyone know of
> a good resource for their terminology? Also, I was wondering if anyone
> knew what the following mean, I heard them used a lot.
>
> Heavy
> Bugsy
>

"Heavy" refers to the aircraft class for the purpose of wake
turbulance separation minima. A "Heavy" is defined as an aircraft capable
of takeoff weights of more than 255,000 pounds whether or not they are
operating at this weight during a particular phase of flight.

"Bugsy" is an air navigation fix. These fixes are defined on air
navigation charts and are used to communicate location information with
ATC. BUGSY is at 44-43-21.550N 074-08-29.080W. The closest airport to
BUGSY is Malone-Dufort Airport at Malone, NY. BUGSY is used as a fix on
the enroute charts (high and low altitude)as well as the missed approach
holding fix for the two GPS approaches into KMAL.

--
Marty Shapiro
Silicon Rallye Inc.

(remove SPAMNOT to email me)

[GeorgeC[_2_]]

Heavy means that is a very large airplane. A heavy airplane weight more that
255,00 pounds.

Bugsy is fix near Mountain View, NY A fix is an aeronautical landmark, in this
case it is where two aeronautical highways cross.

In the AIM (Aeronautical Information Manual) in the back of the book there is
dictionary of Abbreviations/Acronyms. You can get am AIM at the local airport,
or at a bookstore for between $15 -$20. You can also get for free at
http://www.faa.gov/airports_airtraffic/air_traffic/publications/atpubs/aim/



On Sun, 22 Jul 2007 10:31:08 -0700, " >
wrote:

>I was recently on a flight where I was able to listen to the Pilots
>speak to Air Traffic control. It was quite fascinating but I
>understood very little of what they were saying. Does anyone know of
>a good resource for their terminology? Also, I was wondering if anyone
>knew what the following mean, I heard them used a lot.
>
>Heavy
>Bugsy

GeorgeC

[Tina]

You might enjoy listening to air traffic control transmissions on the
internet. Do a search, there are a number of locations available.

[Thomas Borchert]

,

The AIM previously mentioned is available here:
http://www.faa.gov/atpubs/AIM/AIM.pdf

The Pilot/Controller Glossary, also helpful, is here:
http://www.faa.gov/atpubs/PCG/PCG.pdf

If you are really interested, the book "Say Again" published by ASA
(www.asa2fly.com) and written by Bob Gardner who also frequents this
forum, is invaluable.

As for the slang mentioned by kontiki, it shouldn't happen.
Communications should be strictly standard as defined in the
publications above. But there are humans involved...

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

[Roy Smith]

In article >,
GeorgeC > wrote:

> Heavy means that is a very large airplane. A heavy airplane weight more that
> 255,00 pounds.

Let me put a little background behind that.

Air Traffic Control is responsible for keeping a certain amount of space
between each aircraft. The exact amount of space varies with a bunch of
different factors, but it's typically several miles.

Airplanes create an invisible wake in the atmosphere, just like a boat
creates a wake on the water. And, just like the boat's wake, the
airplane's wake can be dangerous to other airplanes. Heavy airplanes
create bigger wakes, so ATC is required to give an airplane following a
Heavy some extra distance. ATC is supposed to know if a given type of
aircraft is considered Heavy, but as an extra reminder to controllers,
pilots of Heavy aircraft add the word "Heavy" to each transmission.

[Tina]

Aren't "heavy's" allowed to go faster under 10,000 feet as well?

[Jim Logajan]

Tina > wrote:
> Aren't "heavy's" allowed to go faster under 10,000 feet as well?

Not generally, as far as I know. Section 91.117 makes an exception only if
a specific exemption has been granted by the FAA or the minimum safe
airspeed for an aircraft is greater than 250 knots.

[Newps]

Tina wrote:
> Aren't "heavy's" allowed to go faster under 10,000 feet as well?


No.

[Peter R.]

On 7/22/2007 1:31:09 PM, " wrote:

> I was recently on a flight where I was able to listen to the Pilots
> speak to Air Traffic control. It was quite fascinating but I
> understood very little of what they were saying.

If you desire to listen to more ATC lingo, click your way over to
http://www.liveatc.net where there are over 150 live audio streams from ATC
facilities in the US and around the world.

--
Peter

[Tom L.]

Both FAA links below are obsolete. Go here:
http://www.faa.gov/airports_airtraffic/air_traffic/publications/
and follow the links to Aeronautical Information Manual and
Pilot/Controller Glossary.

On Sun, 22 Jul 2007 21:57:59 +0200, Thomas Borchert
> wrote:

,
>
>The AIM previously mentioned is available here:
>http://www.faa.gov/atpubs/AIM/AIM.pdf
>
>The Pilot/Controller Glossary, also helpful, is here:
>http://www.faa.gov/atpubs/PCG/PCG.pdf
>
>If you are really interested, the book "Say Again" published by ASA
>(www.asa2fly.com) and written by Bob Gardner who also frequents this
>forum, is invaluable.
>
>As for the slang mentioned by kontiki, it shouldn't happen.
>Communications should be strictly standard as defined in the
>publications above. But there are humans involved...

[Marty Shapiro]

Newps > wrote in
:

>
>
> Tina wrote:
>> Aren't "heavy's" allowed to go faster under 10,000 feet as well?
>
>
> No.
>

Isn't the limit 250 in CBAS regardless of altitude?

--
Marty Shapiro
Silicon Rallye Inc.

(remove SPAMNOT to email me)

[Newps]

Marty Shapiro wrote:
> Newps > wrote in
> :
>
>
>>
>>Tina wrote:
>>
>>>Aren't "heavy's" allowed to go faster under 10,000 feet as well?
>>
>>
>>No.
>>
>
>
> Isn't the limit 250 in CBAS regardless of altitude?


No.

[[email protected]]

Just wanted to thank everyone for their responses. Quite fascinating
stuff here. Thanks again.

Also, I was watching United 93 and they kept using the term "squawk".
I looked it up in a few resources mentioned but since I have no
aviation experience couldn't quite grasp the meaning. What exactly is
a squawk and what is it's function?

And you can listen to this online!!??? Awesome. anyone know of some of
the better sites?

T

[Peter R.]

On 7/22/2007 9:57:44 PM, " wrote:

> And you can listen to this online!!??? Awesome. anyone know of some of
> the better sites?

I posted the best resource for online ATC streaming. Did you miss that post
or is there something in my post's headers that results in them being
filtered?

--
Peter

[[email protected]]

> I posted the best resource for online ATC streaming. Did you miss that post
> or is there something in my post's headers that results in them being
> filtered?

Peter,

I didn't miss your post. It said there were over a 150 options. I was
wondering if you could recommend a few. Or are they all the same.

Thank you for posting that information!

Zan

[Judah]

" > wrote in
ps.com:

> Just wanted to thank everyone for their responses. Quite fascinating
> stuff here. Thanks again.
>
> Also, I was watching United 93 and they kept using the term "squawk".
> I looked it up in a few resources mentioned but since I have no
> aviation experience couldn't quite grasp the meaning. What exactly is
> a squawk and what is it's function?
>
> And you can listen to this online!!??? Awesome. anyone know of some of
> the better sites?

If it were me, I would pick one of the "Top 30" from an airport near a
place I am familiar with - near where I live or where I've been in the
past. There are lots of good options - New York's JFK, Boston's Logan, and
Orlando (everybody's been to Disney, right?) Being from New York, KJFK is
an easy pick for me, but there are plenty of cities up there that might
work better for you.

"Sqauwk" refers to the transponder code assigned to an aircraft. Most
airplanes have a transponder in them that communicates with Air Traffic
Control (ATC) Radar. Certain areas of the country require a plane to have a
transponder for entry, but less populated areas do not require it.

Most modern transponders can communicate both position and altitude back to
the radar system. Some of the new ones even have two-way communication
where other traffic and weather information is "beamed" back to the
airplane's system.

In order to identify a specific airplane, ATC will assign a "sqauwk code"
for the pilot to enter into his transponder to uniquely identify that plane
to the system. The code is typically a four digit number. Even
"uncontrolled" airplanes with transponders squawk a specific code (1200)
and appear on the ATC radar screen, even if they are not talking to ATC.
This allows ATC (and other planes with anti-collision systems) to "see"
them and ensure that they don't fly too close to them. There are also a few
"special codes" that pilots can enter into their transponder to alert ATC
to certain types of emergencies (like a radio failure or hijacking, when
telling ATC about it may be impossible).

Enjoy!

[Marty Shapiro]

Newps > wrote in news:boWdnW0rZd3klznbnZ2dnUVZ_o-
:


>>>
>>
>>
>> Isn't the limit 250 in CBAS regardless of altitude?
>
>
> No.

Ok. I must have missed the change to 91.117. Do you know when it was
changed?

This is the version of 91.117 I'm familiar with:

§ 91.117 Aircraft speed.

(a) Unless otherwise authorized by the Administrator, no person may operate
an aircraft below 10,000 feet MSL at an indicated airspeed of more than 250
knots (288 m.p.h.).

(b) Unless otherwise authorized or required by ATC, no person may operate
an aircraft at or below 2,500 feet above the surface within 4 nautical
miles of the primary airport of a Class C or Class D airspace area at an
indicated airspeed of more than 200 knots (230 mph.). This paragraph (b)
does not apply to any operations within a Class B airspace area. Such
operations shall comply with paragraph (a) of this section.

(c) No person may operate an aircraft in the airspace underlying a Class B
airspace area designated for an airport or in a VFR corridor designated
through such a Class B airspace area, at an indicated airspeed of more than
200 knots (230 mph).

(d) If the minimum safe airspeed for any particular operation is greater
than the maximum speed prescribed in this section, the aircraft may be
operated at that minimum speed.

[Doc. No. 18334, 54 FR 34292, Aug. 18, 1989, as amended by Amdt. 91–219, 55
FR 34708, Aug. 24, 1990; Amdt. 91–227, 56 FR 65657, Dec. 17, 1991; Amdt.
91–233, 58 FR 43554, Aug. 17, 1993]

--
Marty Shapiro
Silicon Rallye Inc.

(remove SPAMNOT to email me)

[Thomas Borchert]

,

> What exactly is
> a squawk and what is it's function?
>

That refers to the use of transponders or "secondary radar" (same
thing). As you may know, radar works by having a ground station send
out a radio signal and listen for the reply. The analysis of that reply
allows the detection of distance and direction of (metal) objects.

Most aircraft in addition have a "transponder" onboard, which reacts to
being hit by a radar beam by actively sending out a code, which is then
received by a secondary radar antenna mounted on top of the primary
radar. Hence, the air traffic controller will not only see the aircraft
on his/her screen, but each aircraft will have a code displayed next to
it. In its simplest form, this code consists of 4 digits which can be
set on the transponder by the pilot at the direction of ATC. This
four-digit-code is called "squawk" for historic reasons. So, ATC would
say "United XX, squawk 4536", and the pilot would then set that code,
which would then appear on the radar screen of the controller.

Having said all that, are you familiar with Wikipedia or Google?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squawk_code

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

[Thomas Borchert]

Tom,

> Both FAA links below are obsolete.
>

Hmm. They work just fine.

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

[Tom L.]

On Mon, 23 Jul 2007 09:24:54 +0200, Thomas Borchert
> wrote:

>Tom,
>
>> Both FAA links below are obsolete.
>>
>
>Hmm. They work just fine.

Interestingly, I get this for both links:

=====
Page Not Found

Sorry, but the page you have requested has moved or no longer exists.
Please use the links provided below to find the resource you were
looking for:
Home

* FAA Home
=====

and if I enter only the first part of the links
(http://www.faa.gov/atpubs) I get forwarded to
http://www.faa.gov/airports_airtraffic/air_traffic/publications/

Mysterious....

[Thomas Borchert]

Tom,

> >> Both FAA links below are obsolete.
> >>
> >
> >Hmm. They work just fine.
>
> Interestingly, I get this for both links:
>

Hmm. Weird! I copied them from the displayed publication right before I
posted. They don't work now. So thanks for correcting.

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

[Andrew Gideon]

On Sun, 22 Jul 2007 19:19:05 -0700, wrote:

> It said there were over a 150 options. I was
> wondering if you could recommend a few.

To what type of traffic do you want to listen? A busy commercial airport?
A busy general aviation airport? A sector of airspace (perhaps near some
airport)? Something else?

- Andrew

[[email protected]]

On Jul 23, 11:34 am, Andrew Gideon > wrote:
> On Sun, 22 Jul 2007 19:19:05 -0700, wrote:
> > It said there were over a 150 options. I was
> > wondering if you could recommend a few.
>
> To what type of traffic do you want to listen? A busy commercial airport?
> A busy general aviation airport? A sector of airspace (perhaps near some
> airport)? Something else?
>
> - Andrew

I'm not sure. I'm new to this. I guess a commercial airport? i'm
looking for something that has a lot of tranmissions and activity and
possibly something interesting going on.

[Peter R.]

On 7/22/2007 10:19:03 PM, " wrote:

> I didn't miss your post. It said there were over a 150 options. I was
> wondering if you could recommend a few. Or are they all the same.

Ah, sorry for the misinterpretation. I thought my link didn't make it
through.

The feeds on LiveATC.net are a total blend of activity, from the busiest
class B airport (JFK, Boston Logan, BWI, etc) to the smaller, slower class D
airport (very small towered airports), and from center feeds (typically
higher altitude, en-route portions) to HF (Atlantic ocean crossing routes).

Perhaps the most entertaining ATC feed on LiveATC.net that draws the most
listeners every day is the JFK (John F Kennedy airport, New York City) ground
feed, whereby you can listen to the organized chaos of controllers directing
lots of aircraft from the gates to the runways and visa versa. With a
combination of NYC controller attitude to pilots who cannot understand the
complex taxi instructions, there are always tense or humorous moments.

http://audio.liveatc.net:8012/kjfk_del_gnd.m3u

However, if you desire the complex air coordination, Boston Approach or any
of the New York approaches, at:

http://audio.liveatc.net:8012/kbos_final.m3u
or
http://audio.liveatc.net:8012/kjfk_app_final.m3u

These are especially interesting when a strong line of thunderstorms is about
to move into the area. Check your favorite weather radar site, then hop over
to LiveATC.net and pick a feed for an airport about to be overrun by
thunderstorms.

I volunteer the Syracuse, NY, feed. Syracuse is a class C (moderately busy
mid-sized airport) in upstate NY. This feed blends approach with tower to
provide a more complete picture of the first or last 15 minutes of a flight.
This feed is here:

http://audio.liveatc.net:8012/ksyr.m3u

--
Peter

[Andrew Gideon]

On Mon, 23 Jul 2007 10:28:17 -0700, wrote:


>
> I'm not sure. I'm new to this.

Then just listen to a few of different types, and see what attracts/holds
your interest.

> I
> guess a commercial airport? i'm looking
> for something that has a lot of tranmissions and activity and possibly
> something interesting going on.

Even that doesn't help; what is "interesting" to you may be dull to
others. I've little interest, for example, in listening to a commercial
airport. Listening to busy GA airports, to me, is more fun.

Listening to a busy GA airport while trying to work, though, would be a
Bad Idea. In that case, I'll listen to a place a little more "sleepy".

Then there's the idea of listening to traffic in a chunk of airspace. I
find en route dull; I'd rather listen to airspace with a lot of arrivals
or departures. But just listening to the cattle cars lining up for a JFK,
though, isn't too exciting. For me. Others may have very different
opinions.

So try a bunch, and see what you like.

- Andrew

[GeorgeC[_2_]]

In his first post he ask what BUGSY. BUGSY is Malone-Dufort Airport at Malone,
NY and later he ask what heavy was. My guess is he's near Montreal.

On Mon, 23 Jul 2007 12:34:08 -0400, Andrew Gideon > wrote:

>On Sun, 22 Jul 2007 19:19:05 -0700, wrote:
>
>> It said there were over a 150 options. I was
>> wondering if you could recommend a few.
>
>To what type of traffic do you want to listen? A busy commercial airport?
>A busy general aviation airport? A sector of airspace (perhaps near some
>airport)? Something else?
>
> - Andrew
>

GeorgeC

[Marty Shapiro]

GeorgeC > wrote in
:

> In his first post he ask what BUGSY. BUGSY is Malone-Dufort Airport at
> Malone, NY and later he ask what heavy was. My guess is he's near
> Montreal.
>
> On Mon, 23 Jul 2007 12:34:08 -0400, Andrew Gideon >
> wrote:
>
>>On Sun, 22 Jul 2007 19:19:05 -0700, wrote:
>>
>>> It said there were over a 150 options. I was
>>> wondering if you could recommend a few.
>>
>>To what type of traffic do you want to listen? A busy commercial
>>airport? A busy general aviation airport? A sector of airspace
>>(perhaps near some airport)? Something else?
>>
>> - Andrew
>>
>
> GeorgeC

BUGSY is NOT Malone-Dufort Airport, nor is at Malone, NY. It is the
missed approach fix on both GPS approach plates to KMAL (Malone-Dufort
Airport) and is about 11.2 nm from KMAL. The closest town to BUGSY is
Mountain Veiw, NY, not Malone, NY. BUGSY is also a fix on the enroute LO
and HI charts.

--
Marty Shapiro
Silicon Rallye Inc.

(remove SPAMNOT to email me)

[James Sleeman]

On Jul 23, 1:57 pm, " > wrote:
> What exactly is
> a squawk and what is it's function?

Aircraft (in general) have a device called a "transponder" which is a
little device that basically tells the air traffic controllers who the
aircraft is (and typically these days, how high it is).

To cut a long story (which you can find on Wikipedia -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transponder_(aviation) ) short, each
aircraft is assigned a code which the pilot enters into the
transponder, and this code is broadcast to air traffic control to
identify the aircraft. This code is called the "squawk" code.

There are also some standard squawk codes, one used "by default" for
VFR flight, one for if the aircraft gets hijacked (if the pilot can
enter the code without the hijackers noticing), another for general
emergencies etc...

[GeorgeC[_2_]]

I did not know that. I wonder what airport BUGSY is near? I wonder what town
that airport is near? I just can't seen to figure it out. Maybe someone smart
like you could tell me the way.

On Mon, 23 Jul 2007 22:32:29 GMT, Marty Shapiro >
wrote:

>GeorgeC > wrote in
:
>
>> In his first post he ask what BUGSY. BUGSY is Malone-Dufort Airport at
>> Malone, NY and later he ask what heavy was. My guess is he's near
>> Montreal.
>>
>> On Mon, 23 Jul 2007 12:34:08 -0400, Andrew Gideon >
>> wrote:
>>
>>>On Sun, 22 Jul 2007 19:19:05 -0700, wrote:
>>>
>>>> It said there were over a 150 options. I was
>>>> wondering if you could recommend a few.
>>>
>>>To what type of traffic do you want to listen? A busy commercial
>>>airport? A busy general aviation airport? A sector of airspace
>>>(perhaps near some airport)? Something else?
>>>
>>> - Andrew
>>>
>>
>> GeorgeC
>
> BUGSY is NOT Malone-Dufort Airport, nor is at Malone, NY. It is the
>missed approach fix on both GPS approach plates to KMAL (Malone-Dufort
>Airport) and is about 11.2 nm from KMAL. The closest town to BUGSY is
>Mountain Veiw, NY, not Malone, NY. BUGSY is also a fix on the enroute LO
>and HI charts.

GeorgeC

[Marty Shapiro]

GeorgeC > wrote in
:

> I did not know that. I wonder what airport BUGSY is near? I wonder
> what town that airport is near? I just can't seen to figure it out.
> Maybe someone smart like you could tell me the way.
>
> On Mon, 23 Jul 2007 22:32:29 GMT, Marty Shapiro
> > wrote:
>
>>GeorgeC > wrote in
:
>>
>>> In his first post he ask what BUGSY. BUGSY is Malone-Dufort Airport
>>> at Malone, NY and later he ask what heavy was. My guess is he's near
>>> Montreal.
>>>
>>> On Mon, 23 Jul 2007 12:34:08 -0400, Andrew Gideon
>>> > wrote:
>>>
>>>>On Sun, 22 Jul 2007 19:19:05 -0700, wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> It said there were over a 150 options. I was
>>>>> wondering if you could recommend a few.
>>>>
>>>>To what type of traffic do you want to listen? A busy commercial
>>>>airport? A busy general aviation airport? A sector of airspace
>>>>(perhaps near some airport)? Something else?
>>>>
>>>> - Andrew
>>>>
>>>
>>> GeorgeC
>>
>> BUGSY is NOT Malone-Dufort Airport, nor is at Malone, NY. It
>> is the
>>missed approach fix on both GPS approach plates to KMAL (Malone-Dufort
>>Airport) and is about 11.2 nm from KMAL. The closest town to BUGSY is
>>Mountain Veiw, NY, not Malone, NY. BUGSY is also a fix on the enroute
>>LO and HI charts.
>
> GeorgeC
>

Enter the fix name into airnav.com. That will give you information
about the fix including lat & long, what charts it appears on, nearest
airport, and nearest town. Then look at the referenced charts for the lat
& long. If IAPs, look at the airport entry in airnav and then look at the
IAPs for that airport.

--
Marty Shapiro
Silicon Rallye Inc.

(remove SPAMNOT to email me)

[[email protected]]

GeorgeC > wrote:
> In the AIM (Aeronautical Information Manual) in the back of the book
> there is dictionary of Abbreviations/Acronyms. You can get am AIM at
> the local airport, or at a bookstore for between $15 -$20. You can
> also get for free at
> http://www.faa.gov/airports_airtraffic/air_traffic/publications/atpubs/aim/

Since a new edition of the AIM comes out every year, you can also
usually find older versions pretty cheap at a used book store. You
wouldn't use an old version for flying or serious study, but for general
interest they work fine. I think I once paid $3 or $4 for a printed,
bound copy of the FAR/AIM (the AIM plus some of the more important
Federal Aviation Regulations) that was a couple of years out of date.
When I'm in the smallest room in my house, it's a lot easier to read
dead tree slices than it is to read a PDF.

Matt Roberds