Lining Up

I was just reading Luca F. Bencini-Tibos letter to the editor (Unicom, December 2010) and wanted to correct what I perceive to be some misunderstanding. First, changing to ICAO weather abbreviations was and is for the purpose of international standardization, and not to benefit any one group. Second, airspace can have more than one designation, even under ICAO: The TRSA around Oklahomas Altus AFB, exhibits Class D, Class E, and TRSA simultaneously. Third, it was not luck, but study and much debate that caused ICAO in 1952 to streamline the then-internationally accepted French, Spanish and English into the current single language. The overall effort involved linguists and psychologists, not luck.

Key Takeaways:

• The lead letter corrects several aviation misunderstandings, stating ICAO standards (e.g., weather abbreviations, single language) are for international standardization and safety, and explaining specific phraseology like "line up and wait" is rooted in psychological principles to prevent miscommunication in a high-risk environment.
• A reader advocates for a petition concerning the Third-Class Medical, noting a perceived lack of coverage from major aviation organizations.
• Another reader disputes the claim that water landings are free of hazards, citing the danger of numerous cables crossing rivers and lakes, especially in mountainous regions.
• A safety tip for non-radar IFR departures suggests pilots observe and make mental notes of surrounding terrain and potential obstacles upon arrival at unfamiliar airports.

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