Two Guys In A Learjet

After the usual say again your callsign back and forth, the controller determined there was no flight plan on file. A new voice from the Learjet, probably the captain, asked if he could air-file over the ATC frequency. The controller instead suggested the Lear could file its flight plan over the radio by talking to Flight Service. This is when it got interesting: The Learjet then asked for the Flight Service frequency and a clearance to 17,500 feet. It got even more interesting when ATC suggested calling Flight Service on 122.1 MHz. All of a sudden, here were three blatant examples of poor airmanship and incomplete knowledge.

Joseph E. (Jeb) Burnside

Monday, October 29, 2018 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

A Learjet crew displayed multiple instances of poor airmanship, including departing without an IFR flight plan, seeking an unnecessary VFR altitude clearance, and unfamiliarity with the standard Flight Service frequency (122.2 MHz).
The Air Traffic Controller contributed to the confusion by incorrectly advising the use of 122.1 MHz for Flight Service without clarifying its VOR listening requirement.
The incident highlighted a concerning lack of fundamental aviation knowledge and experience among both the professional flight crew and the ATC controller regarding standard communication procedures and VFR flight rules.

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I was letting down for a landing at Class B International in good VFR. The flight had been rather dull—my favorite—until a Learjet 60 reported airborne off a nearby nontowered airport. They were looking for their IFR clearance to a destination in the next state north.

After the usual “say again your callsign” back and forth, the controller determined there was no flight plan on file. A new voice from the Learjet, probably the captain, asked if he could air-file over the ATC frequency. The controller instead suggested the Lear could file its flight plan over the radio by talking to Flight Service. This is when it got interesting: The Learjet then asked for the Flight Service frequency and a clearance to 17,500 feet. It got even more interesting when ATC suggested calling Flight Service on 122.1 MHz. All of a sudden, here were three blatant examples of poor airmanship and incomplete knowledge.