Self-Announcing

Joseph E. (Jeb) Burnside

Thursday, January 21, 2021 at 11:15 AM ET

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Key Takeaways:

The article features a debate between a reader and the editor regarding self-announcement protocols at non-towered airports; the reader cites FAA Advisory Circulars (AC 90-66B) requiring N-numbers for identification, especially with ADS-B, while the editor prioritizes aircraft type for immediate in-pattern awareness and brevity.
Practical flying advice includes always choosing the safest route with more landing options for engine-out scenarios and adding power during steep turns to maintain airspeed and achieve smoother maneuvers.
Additional contributions cover monitoring engine break-in using oil temperature data and a clarification regarding the historical use of a lighted match to determine aircraft attitude in the absence of a working gyro.

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After resolving a glitch in my subscription dating back to March, I sat down to catch up with the back issues I missed. I began reading the April 2020 issue last evening. In “Hear Me Out,” the article covering communications with ATC, Mr. Burnside supplied a sidebar about operations at non-towered airports. He stated, “Personally, I don’t need your N-number; just the type.” Well, you personally may not need the N-number, but the FAA does. In Advisory Circular AC 90-66B, “Non-Towered Airport Flight Operations,” you will find the following:

“Self-announce transmissions may include aircraft type to aid in identification and detection, but should not use paint schemes or color descriptions to replace the use of the aircraft call sign. For example, “MIDWEST TRAFFIC, TWIN COMMANDER FIVE ONE ROMEO FOXTROT TEN MILES NORTHEAST” or “MIDWEST TRAFFIC, FIVE ONE ROMEO FOXTROT TWIN COMMANDER TEN MILES NORTHEAST,” not “MIDWEST TRAFFIC, BLUE AND WHITE TWIN COMMANDER TEN MILES NORTHEAST.”