Got em On the Fish Finder

The FAA does a fine job of providing a framework for our safe flying. But, even within that, there are a few arcane things that might not make sense or might be done better. My favorite example is 91.126 that essentially says if the Class G airport has standard left traffic, When approaching to land … each pilot of an airplane must make all turns … to the left. Its difficult to argue that entering a traffic pattern isnt approaching to land, but that first turn is to the right, against the rules. (Yes, the FAA has talked around this, but it says what it says and thats not what we do.)

Editorial Staff

Thursday, December 26, 2019 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

** Illustration by Chris Gall**

Key Takeaways:

The article discusses common deviations from official aviation phraseology, particularly how pilots respond to ATC traffic advisories using "Looking" instead of the prescribed "Negative contact."
While the author generally prioritizes effective and efficient information conveyance over strict adherence to precise wording in routine communications, finding "Looking" more informative.
A crucial exception is identified: in challenging communication conditions (e.g., poor radio signals, language barriers), strict use of standard phraseology becomes essential for clear and successful communication, prompting the author to reconsider its universal importance.

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There was an article in the November Aviation Consumer about the ICAO flight plan. It spawned a reader note about proper phraseology to respond to a traffic call. This sparked a conversation between Luca Bencini-Tibo, the author (who also contributes to these pages), Larry Anglisano, the editor, and me, some of which is worth exploring here.

The FAA does a fine job of providing a framework for our safe flying. But, even within that, there are a few arcane things that might not make sense or might be done better. My favorite example is 91.126 that essentially says if the Class G airport has standard left traffic, “When approaching to land … each pilot of an airplane must make all turns … to the left.” It’s difficult to argue that entering a traffic pattern isn’t “approaching to land,” but that first turn is to the right, against the rules. (Yes, the FAA has talked around this, but it says what it says and that’s not what we do.)