Changing of the Guard

Thursday, January 20, 2022 at 11:52 AM ET

Verified

Headset jacks for the “Operator” are primary and transmit is available either by an in-line push-to-talk button (PTT) or a foot pedal. The “Monitor” jack has no foot pedal, but that PTT overrides the “Operator” on transmit, such as for an instructor and a trainee.

Key Takeaways:

Air traffic controllers utilize a structured "Position Relief Briefing" (PRB) checklist to ensure a seamless and safe transfer of responsibilities when changing positions.
The briefing process begins with the relieving controller independently reviewing an Information Display System (IDS) for general conditions, active runways, NOTAMs, and staffing.
A verbal component of the PRB then covers critical details like current weather impacts, any training situations, and a comprehensive overview of all active air traffic and their specific instructions or intentions.
Throughout the briefing, controllers must multitask, continuously managing ongoing air traffic while simultaneously giving or receiving the detailed handover information.

See a mistake? Contact us.

You’re flying along, listening to a controller issue instructions to many aircraft. From one second to the next, you suddenly start hearing a different controller’s voice. You haven’t changed frequencies. They’re seemingly picking up where the first one left off.

Controllers are used to hearing voice changes from an aircraft. Many times a day, I’ll clear someone for takeoff, and one voice reads it back. Two minutes later, as they’re off the departure end, I’ll say, “Contact departure.” Now a different voice responds. We’re aware the flying vs. talking duties bounce between pilots in the same cockpit.