When to acknowledge ATC

Icebound wrote:

"Roger" is definitely more professional than "Thanks". Now THAT is truly a
waste of bandwidth. Any "aviation-communication" text that I have ever
read, discourages the use of "thanks" or "thank you" etc... as being totally
redundant and useless...

There's the text and then there is the reality, a difference that someone
who only reads about aviation most likely misses. A small thank you is not
redundant and useless, especially if the controller really did do something
that made your flying just a bit easier. After all, we are still civilized
human beings.

For example, when I am approaching my class C airport from the opposite end
of the active runway, I will often request a straight-in to the opposite
runway (winds depending). A move like this will shave off perhaps ten
minutes of vectors and after a long flight, this might mean the difference
between a properly emptied bladder and an improperly emptied bladder.

Often times ATC will go out of their way to accommodate this request,
including slowing up an aircraft being vectored for an approach to the
active runway. Keep in mind that ATC has absolutely no obligation to do
this and a "thank you" from me hopefully demonstrates to him/her that
his/her efforts were appreciated.

Conversely, I have been thanked many times by ATC after doing something
that made their work a little easier, such as 360s, S-turns, not
complaining when being vectored through the localizer to join on the other
side, or going around. I certainly like to hear those words.


--
Peter

















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