I am slowly teaching myself various aspects of flying, navigation and communication to enhance my FS9 experience and am now at the point where I'm relatively proficient at IFR and navigating using various navaids and avionics. It's time to move on to the next step: radio comms and interacting with air traffic control. Does anyone have any links to training materials for radio comms and ATC? I have been using real-world training material such as the FAA's Instrument Flying Guide and Canadian Air Pilot charts and approach plates thus far and would like to continue using real-world material if at all possible -- even if real-world procedures can't be followed exactly in FS9, I still find learning them enhances my sim experience. Any pointers would be much appreciated.Thanks.

Here is an article that might be interesting.http://www.avweb.com/news/columns/190337-1.html

The language of flight.I think ever since Chuck Yeager got on the horn, everybody waited to talk like him. In that that smooth drawly way.Controlled shouting is an art.Just like watching people land at an airport,so to is listening to "talking" on the airwaves. You seem to know a lot about a pilot watching him land,and more so listening to him speak.The student in the pattern,the captain acknowledging a clearance. But its those controllers we have to deal with.Coming into the NY area ,you feel the flavor of the area,with its rapid talk.Ya ask "say again" and you'll find your self circling in the boondocks.The same for Atlanta.I tried many ways to talk on the freq. But in the end its not how you sound ,but what you are saying that is important.Acknowledging IFR clearances,and the read back does take practice. The second you hit the key to transmit,they will be listening.There are tapes of this for instructional purposes.I think Sportys may have some of this stuff.Other wise keep listening. Get a handheld receiver.Put in your local airport freqs.Listen to the chatter,your ear will soon be trained to know whats going on.GOOD LUCK and HAVE FUN VIN

I have a book titled "The Pilot's Radio Communications Handbook" by Paul E. Illman and Jay Pouzar. My copy is the Third Edition, copyright 1989 but there may be a newer printing available now. The publisher is Tab Books and it is part of their "Practical Flying Series."I learned a lot from this book. It not only explains the radio protocols but how to use the appropriate charts and other documentation to determine the correct facilities and frequencies. The nice thing about this book is that it is readable. It is more like a novel than like a textbook. I recommend it without reservation. R-

I have the same book, only the 4th Edition copyright 1994. It's definitely a very good communications book, and also highly recommend it.

I dunno, I don't have a book, aside from the AIM (I fly in the USA).Otherwise the real world of ATC radio communications usually does not follow the book. Sad but true. Sometimes it does, but most of the times it does not. You'd be shocked at how may airline pilots do worse at it than some GA pilots!Example: (names changed to protect the guilty)ATC: "Airliner 123, can you descend to 280 for trafficAirliner 123: "You bet".Needless to say, I had to listen to the whole conversation over again, until the bozo in the airliner cockpit got it right after the controller asked for clarification."Airliner 123, descending to 280".True story, and the airliner involved was a MAJOR airline.Of course, when you fly for real, it is VERY easy to get complacent.I'm still trying to force myself to say "fife" instead or "five", and "fower" instead of "four", and that's after 30 years of real flying.You would be shocked just how different the real world of ATC communications is from what you read in a book, or hear in FS.Of course, you have to realize that real radio communications is often not as clear and concise as is it is in FS. Actually, it is not even close!Ever get that "squeel" in your head phones when someone gets "stepped on" (two planes talk at once). Oh, that's a real joy! You want to throw the "cans" (headphones) off your head because it is so loud!In real life we sometimes say to ATC say: "Eh, say again".ATC often says the same to us too! :-lolEdit: I'm sure you do not hear stuff like this from a pilot on VATSIM:"Boston twenty thirty five, see ya'"That's real world. Now, can you tell me what that means? ;-)Yeah, Don Brown at AVWEB has some great articles, and I enjoy reading them, and do learn from them, but Atlanta is not New York, and he is writing in public, so I take it all with some "salt". After all, he has articles about "filing direct" and how to do it properly, as though I have that option where I fly from!Seriously; read what you can about communications, but do not worry about it in FS until you deal with it in the real world. It is indeed a whole 'nother world.Regards,http://www.dreamfleet2000.com/gfx/images/F...R_FORUM_LOU.jpg

Nice Lou,I could give you a few hundred examples myself, but who has the time...lol. Just talk really fast and you'll be understood. :-)

Thanks for the suggestions and the points about reality versus the ideal are well taken. I'll check the library for a copy of the Pilot's Radio Communication Handbook and will also have a browse around the Sporty's site to see if anything catches my eye.

If you want to know what real world ATC is like check out this website.http://www.liveatc.net/feedindex.php Greetings from Savannah GA:-wave Denny

Try CAP 413 Radio Telephony Manual for UK phraseology.http://www.caa.co.uk/default.aspx?categoryid=33

LOL. You beat me to it! If you any problems using that site there is a d/l at my own that you might find easier to use (go to the downloads page).Andrew Brownhttp://www.gordiusfs.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/

In my 141 hours of flying, I have yet to hear "fower" or "fife". And "nine" is generally just "nine", not "niner". You do hear "niner" occationally. At Spokane International during the slack periods, communications tends to get pretty casual between ATC and pilots, sometimes conversational. :-lolATC: "Horizon 1234, cleared to land. Piper 5AB, cleared to land following the Horizon jet."Piper 5AB: "Cleared to land, looking for the traffic."Piper 5AB: "Uh, I see a Frontier jet on final, is Horizon just leasing the aircraft?"ATC: "Horizon's operating their jets into Spokane for them."----------------------------------------------------------------John MorganReal World: KGEG, UND Aerospace Spokane Satillite, Private ASEL 141.2 hrs, 314 landings, 46 inst. apprs.Virtual: MSFS 2004"There is a feeling about an airport that no other piece of ground can have. No matter what the name of the country on whose land it lies, an airport is a place you can see and touch that leads to a reality that can only be thought and felt." - The Bridge Across Forever: A Love Story by Richard Bach

Hi,yes its true, on a VFR day, in more rural area's it could get "conversational". Not so on Friday PM, attempting to get in to TEB.With LAG,EWR,and JFK all around you ,it could get very busy.Ya got every thing working as a SEL pilot.Eyes,head,mouth,hands, feet,and hopefully your brain.The best head set you can get, is invaluable,as would be someone in the right seat,for moral support.I have not been there for some years now..For one thing ,they don't want you,another is, its expensive. I also gave up driving to 42nd st.on Saturday nite.I mean guys like IMUS,JOHN TRAVOLTA, and other celebs,sport figures,with their hot jets will blow you away.Another place ya don't want to go sightseeing is the nations capital. Before ya can say "say again,please,they may shoot you down. There was a time radios were minimual, light signals sufficed for landing/takeoffs,and rocking the wings said it all. VIN

Also would suggest going to the VatSim website and listening to their links to real world ATC. Especially KATL MACEY approach which also includes a mind boggling Radar Screen. You can hear the real thing as to how to do it (And how not to do it as Lou so well related).Happy flying:RTH

Hi again,One more thought,check "THE AVSIM STORE" Featured is a DVD program called VOX ATC DELUXE DVD.It may satisfy your requtrment. VIN