Cleaning Up Your Comms

Ryan Motte

Saturday, June 03, 2023 at 08:42 PM ET

Verified

A prevailing high from Canada dominates most of the U.S. weather.

Key Takeaways:

Effective aviation communication is a continuously developing skill, enhanced through active practice, exposure to diverse environments (towered/non-towered, IFR), and leveraging tools like LiveATC for listening practice.
Improve communication by anticipating calls through building mental maps of traffic flow, using precise and concise phraseology (referencing the AIM and Pilot Controller Glossary) to reduce radio clutter, and always thinking before speaking.
Prioritize safety by asking for clarification if unsure of a clearance, ensuring communication equipment is functional, minimizing cockpit distractions, and never arguing with ATC, instead resolving potential issues on the ground via appropriate reporting channels.

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I did my primary flight training at a slow, towered airport, where our flight school consisted of about 70% of the traffic taking off and landing. There was a commuter operation with three or four flights a day, and occasional private jet and corporate traffic. The controllers were fantastic about slowing down calls for student pilots, and the flight school regularly scheduled visits to the tower so we could see how the other side operates.

For variety, we often did pattern work at the nearby non-towered field, which truly felt pilot-controlled. There were a few additional flight schools at that airport, plus more jet traffic. The pattern frequently had six to eight aircraft in it, with a jet on a long final. I have often heard that pilots who train at towered airports are more comfortable at towered airports, and pilots who training at non-towered airports prefer non-towered airports. Luckily for me, comfort is usually the result of a healthy dose of exposure therapy.