Don’t Allow the Aircraft Radio to Fly the Pilot

Here are some tips on navigating similar call signs, talking to ATC, and getting help when you’re lost.

Meg Godlewski

Tuesday, January 20, 2026 at 12:15 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

Textron Aviation's Cessna 172 Skyhawk is one of the most widely used training aircraft in the world. [Credit: Textron Aviation]

Key Takeaways:

Pilots frequently misprioritize "communicate" over "aviate" and "navigate," leading to unsafe situations, as exemplified by a lost pilot unfamiliar with their aircraft's basic details.
Clear, confident radio communication is crucial for pilot safety, enabling Air Traffic Control (ATC) to assist effectively and prevent confusion, even if it means asking for clarification.
Effective collaboration between pilots and ATC, utilizing full call signs and proactive communication, is essential for avoiding errors and ensuring smooth, safe operations.
Real-world anecdotes highlight the importance of pilots knowing their aircraft and embracing communication with ATC for enhanced safety and a more positive flying experience.

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Aviate, navigate, communicate. In that order. Every time. This is one of the first things fledgling pilots learn. Yet it is still common to drop the airplane to fly the radio—and sometimes it appears the radio is flying the pilot.

I have been an earwitness to ATC trying to help a lost pilot get flight following for a daytime VFR flight. This was before ADS-B was the law of the land. When the controller asked the pilot for the type of aircraft, the pilot replied, “I’m not sure. They gave it to me at the flight school and told me to take it.”