Lonely up there?

I was coming home from an Angel flight one weekday morning & after 10
minutes or so of not hearing anything, I asked the local approach if they
still had me. They said, "You're my only airplane".

I felt kinda special.


"paul kgyy" wrote in message
oups.com...
It appeared to be a long time since last hearing from ATC on a recent
flight, and sure enough, "27D can you still hear us?". I still could,
and they transferred me to a local approach control.

Anybody ever just call them up to see if they forgot about you? I did
that once over Toledo.

Over this past weekend, the center frequency I was on appeared to go
quiet. I was busy talking to my pax (one was flying in a spamcan for
the first time and had more questions than my 10 y.o. daughter), so I
didn't notice. Near the airspace I generally get transferred from
center to approach, I didn't get the handoff I expected. I became
concerned and asked center for a radio check and got no response. I
tried 3 or 4 times over about a 5 minute period and again got no
response. The frequency was dead silent.

Then I switched to the approach frequency in that area and asked for a
radio check again a few times, but again - silence.

I happily continued on my as-filed route and contemplated squawking
7600. I then switched to Com2 to see if it was a problem with Com1 and
called up approach, who informed me that center and approach had been
trying to contact me for the last 10 minutes. I apologized that my
Com1 had failed. (Interestingly, Com1 worked fine on the way home. I
suspect the right-seat pax hit something on the com panel and I didn't
notice.)

Luckily, I didn't get vectors to the penalty box and the rest of the
flight was fabulous.

If the frequency is silent for longer than I'm comfortable with, I
always ask for a radio check.

A related issue, but a bit of a tangent from the original question: Here in the western US, it's common for
the center controllers to use multiple transmitters for a given frequency and switch between them as
necessary. They will activate the transmitter closest to your position only when talking to you. This can
be confusing as you monitor the frequency and realize you're not hearing the controller all the time, but
you do hear other aircraft responses (for example if they're at a higher altitude). When you first
experience this, you're sure they've forgotten about you or you missed a handoff. I even recall one flight
where there were so many aircraft getting confused by this that the controller made a broadcast
announcement to explain the situation, "don't be alarmed if you don't hear all my transmissions" or words
to that effect.

Mike

Anybody ever just call them up to see if they forgot about you? I did
that once over Toledo.

All the time. And also to see if I "forgot about them" (there's a
switch on the yoke that changes radios; I hate that switch because it's
so easy to simply disappear and not know it for a while)

Jose
--
Nothing takes longer than a shortcut.
for Email, make the obvious change in the address.

"paul kgyy" wrote:

Anybody ever just call them up to see if they forgot about you? I did
that once over Toledo.

Not anymore. Coming home from Macon, GA late Sunday night, the freq's were
dead quiet, but it doesn't worry me nowadays.

I just turn down the squelch if I start wondering if the radios have died.
Not a 100% true test, but if I hear the static it at least it tells me I'm
probably receiving okay.

--
Dan
C172RG at BFM

paul kgyy wrote:
It appeared to be a long time since last hearing from ATC on a recent
flight, and sure enough, "27D can you still hear us?". I still could,
and they transferred me to a local approach control.

Anybody ever just call them up to see if they forgot about you? I did
that once over Toledo.


I usually try to legitimize my call (a bit) by asking for the altimeter
setting. Makes it seem like I'm busy "tending shop".

Rich

Rich wrote:

I usually try to legitimize my call (a bit) by asking for the altimeter
setting. Makes it seem like I'm busy "tending shop".

Rich

Providence approach has a sense of humor at times. One time I was
heading towards their airspace with my sister and her kid. The approach
frequency was pretty quiet at the time. Called for and received a
squawk, put it in, got identified and then a minute later got called
again "grumman 12345 is radar ah, disregard" so I replied "345 is glad
to be still in radar contact" he replied "345 gives you warm and fuzzy
feelings?" "affirmative 345" and that was the end of the conversation.
My sister however was impressed that not only did PVD approach let us
through their airspace but also made sure we had "warm and fuzzy
feelings" as well.

I guess something to break up the monotony is a welcome change for them
once in a while.

Robert

In a previous article, Robert Chambers said:
My sister however was impressed that not only did PVD approach let us
through their airspace but also made sure we had "warm and fuzzy
feelings" as well.

First time I flew to Canada, my wife was impressed that Oshawa airport
dimmed their lights up and down so I could pick them out.

She was also impressed that Bradley Tower wanted to make sure we had a
hotel when we went up there for parent's weekend. (I've explained ATIS to
her before, so I think she was joking. I hope.)


--
Paul Tomblin http://xcski.com/blogs/pt/
If God had intended man to fly he would have given him enough money for a
Bonanza.

She was also impressed that Bradley Tower wanted to make sure we had a
hotel when we went up there for parent's weekend. (I've explained ATIS to
her before, so I think she was joking. I hope.)


That's really funny!

Robert Chambers wrote:


Rich wrote:

I usually try to legitimize my call (a bit) by asking for the
altimeter setting. Makes it seem like I'm busy "tending shop".

Rich


Providence approach has a sense of humor at times. One time I was
heading towards their airspace with my sister and her kid. The approach
frequency was pretty quiet at the time. Called for and received a
squawk, put it in, got identified and then a minute later got called
again "grumman 12345 is radar ah, disregard" so I replied "345 is glad
to be still in radar contact" he replied "345 gives you warm and fuzzy
feelings?" "affirmative 345" and that was the end of the conversation.
My sister however was impressed that not only did PVD approach let us
through their airspace but also made sure we had "warm and fuzzy
feelings" as well.

I can always tell when things are slow at ELM ... they will hand me off
to tower and clear me to land when I'm still 20 miles away. No kidding.

Matt