Tips from Kwaree

After bumbling through radio communications for a while, I started to
make up tricks to help me remember what needs to be done with flying
in general. Below is a list…I am going to add more as I think of them…
and please feel free to add your own.

- Airports on aeronautical charts – blue for towered and magenta for
non-towered – just think of a guy in a blue uniform sitting in the
tower.

- Magnetic deviation on a compass – on a northerly heading, making a
turn will make the compass lag. Just think of north as your kids…
always lagging behind.

- Radio communications – this is a big one – just remember when
initiating a radio call, you need to say four things…distance,
altitude, where you are going and what you want. From, height, where
and what.

After initiating contact in class D airspace, you would say, “I am 2
miles north of the field, 2,500 feet, heading in for a landing with
information sierra.”

Another example would be for entering class E airspace. “I am 5 miles
west of Stewart, 4,500 feet, heading towards Columbia County via the
Kingston VOR and am requesting flight following.”

When entering class G airspace to land at a non-towered airport, you
say, “I am 5 miles east of the field, 3,500 feet, will be entering the
pattern on a 45 for a landing on runway 21.”

Sometimes your communication doesn’t fall exactly in the proper order,
but just remember that you need to say four things.

When repeating information back to ATC, just remember the facts. They
will tell you what seems like 20 things. Just repeat back what
matters. Say, “Four Delta Sierra, right hand pattern, runway 29 with
the option.” You don’t need to put this statement into a wonderfully
written sentance.

- Taxiing – When taxiing and passing another airplane, drive like you
are in England…the other side of the road.
http://www.kwaree.com/blog/2007/03/0...t-tips-tricks/
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Mark IV