I'm listening to ATC control and it's amazing how quick they communicate with each other. Tower gives whole instructions and radio frequencies in very quick speech and pilots repeat very quickly and easily. How do they do it? Is there a technique to learn that?

 

Teo Halfen

No technique.. Just practice.. ;)

We do this all the time too. After a while, you know what they are going to say before they do. If you notice, they give the same instructions all the time. Rarely does something catch us off guard.

Just think how easy and quick it would be for you to describe where I could find the spoons in your kitchen - same thing, familiarity.

 

Al

ATC has a standard phraseology and while there are variations this standardization allows for efficient communication.

Sometimes, after an ATC and a pilot have been talking non stop for 10 seconds or so (like changing an arrival procedure or something), they pilot stops using the callsign and in general aviation cases, he may just use the last 3 digits, for example:

 

United 1053 (one zero five three) shortened to ten fifty three

 

Skyhawk (or Cessna) N745JV shortened to 5JV.

ATC has a standard phraseology and while there are variations this standardization allows for efficient communication.

 

Exactly, the 7110.65, the AIM and the Pilot-Controller Glossary all set up pilots and ATC alike with a phraseology standard. That standard allows the two groups to communicate very quickly and easily (most of the time) because the words and phrases are expected (though this can also cause issues). Since they're expected, the groups know how to process it faster.

 

As an example, clearances generally follow the form of "[Callsign], cleared to the [destination airport, or some point in between if there are traffic issues]. [Departure instructions], maintain [initial altitude], expect [filed altitude] [X] minutes after departure. Departure frequency [freq]. Squawk

."

 

Because I know it will take that form, I'm better prepared to process the information, or write it down. Same thing goes for just about everything else.

 

As for the speed of speaking, that's all experience.

So AL, "United 754 Heavy say spoon position."

 

"Spoons 6 oclock 5 miles in drawer at my house United 754 heavy."

 

Kind of like that?

So AL, "United 754 Heavy say spoon position."

 

"Spoons 6 oclock 5 miles in drawer at my house United 754 heavy."

 

Kind of like that?

 

Pretty much. Although if ATC asked me to say spoon position, you'd hear a noticable delay followed by "aaaaahhhhh, uuuuummmm say again please for UAL745"

Just think how easy and quick it would be for you to describe where I could find the spoons in your kitchen - same thing, familiarity.

 

Al

AH yes the spoons...wait ...hang on ...don't tell me...hmmm i know there here somewhere....oh yes ...no...ah here they are..no they're knives wait a sec... :smile:

 

it's why i don't fly real aircraft

 

steve-0

 

AH yes the spoons...wait ...hang on ...don't tell me...hmmm i know there here somewhere....oh yes ...no...ah here they are..no they're knives wait a sec... :smile:

 

it's why i don't fly real aircraft

 

steve-0

 

Haha nicely said!

Just think how easy and quick it would be for you to describe where I could find the spoons in your kitchen - same thing, familiarity.

 

Al

Or how many pairs of socks you have-two!

Just think how easy and quick it would be for you to describe where I could find the spoons in your kitchen - same thing, familiarity.

 

Al

 

Good analogy Alan.

When your new you usually write the instructions down or if your experienced when there are a lot of small details. It's a peace of cake after a while.

I want to try VoxATC, that might allow learning and practicing nicely.