FAA Radio Communication Fundamentals!

Vance

Gyroplane CFI
Staff member
Joined
Oct 30, 2003
Messages
18,357
Location
Santa Maria, California
Aircraft
Givens Predator
Total Flight Time
2600+ in rotorcraft
This post is directed toward pilots in the USA as radio communications are managed differently in other countries.

Radio communications are not required at a non-towered airport in the USA.

In a recent post a gyroplane flight instructor in the USA described his radio communication for rotor spool up and takeoff at a non-towered field.

He used the terms “active runway” and “position and hold”.

When I mentioned that there is no active runway at a non-towered airport and position and hold is not correct radio phraseology his response was:

“Even though position and hold and active runway are not technically terminology at non-towered airports, you will hear active runway and position and hold called out many times. I certainly have. Pilots use it quite a lot.”

In my opinion the reason pilots use non-standard radio phraseology quite a lot is because their CFIs did not teach them well and did not think it was important because the CFIs themselves were taught sloppy radio phraseology.

In my opinion the reason using the runway number is important rather “than the active runway” is so people know where you are. This is one of the elements of radio communication.

At Lompoc the “active runway” could be runway 7 or runway 25 depending on what pilots decide and in my experience pilots often do not all make the same decision.

The elements of radio communication at a non-towered airport and how I would handle the phraseology:

Who am I talking to? “Lompoc area Traffic.”

Who am I? “Experimental Gyroplane 142 Mike Golf.”

Where am I? “Holding short of Runway 25.”

What am I fixing to do? “Lining up for takeoff runway 25 for a right down wind departure to the east, delay on runway for rotor spool up.”

What airport am I calling about? Lompoc.

There will be lots of different opinions about phraseology and I would be the last to suggest that mine is the only way to do it.

In my opinion the elements of radio communication are fundamental and an important part of safety at a non-towered airport.

I feel saying “the active” instead of the runway number is simply wrong and dangerous.

Position and Hold may sound cool and old school but it is not correct and in my opinion does not describe what is going on.

Position and hold was replaced with line up and wait at towered airports to indicate they wanted someone to hold in place on the runway until they received clearance. It was changed to comply with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
 
I enjoy Mike Golf and suspect it is got something to do with Mark Givans, the designer and builder of The Predator.
 

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MG .....Mark Givens...probably a coincidence just like SF on my helicopter.
 
I also have a Mike Golf - I assume it's from Magni Gyro. I previously had a Delta Golf, and that trips off the tongue even better, IMHO ☺️
 
Is yours a Gremminger Magni? I believe all the ones Greg built end in MG.
 
Haha, I had about 30 hours flying with Greg in that gyro! When did you acquire it?
As I recall, it's not actually his 7th; 116MG and 616MG are airplanes, but 2, 3, 4, 5 are his.
 
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I also have a Mike Golf - I assume it's from Magni Gyro. I previously had a Delta Golf, and that trips off the tongue even better, IMHO ☺️
My helicopter is niner niner niner delta whiskey. Delta Whiskey reminds me of mint juleps and New Orleans jazz.
 
In the UK, 999 is the emergency number, and if you're texting, dw means "don't worry" :cool:
 
Haha, I had about 30 hours flying with Greg in that gyro! When did you acquire it?
As I recall, it's not actually his 7th; 116MG and 616MG are airplanes, but 2, 3, 4, 5 are his.
I bought 716MG back in April 2018 from the guy who bought it from Greg the previous... November?.

You know I'm now going to blame you for every little chip and scratch I found on it :)
 
T'was in impeccable condition the last time I laid eyes on her. :cool:
Me and she, in KPCD:
 

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