Etiquette for establishing 2 way radio-communication at delta

[Larry in TN]

Amusing side-thought -- since tower answered back with the N number (thus 2-way comms established), could not this RV now drag his jowl through the class D any which way he wishes, all while ignoring any subsequent comms?

99.17 Deviation from flight plans and ATC clearances and instructions.

(a) No pilot may deviate from the provisions of an ATC clearance or ATC instruction except in accordance with § 91.123 of this chapter.​

91.129 Operations in Class D airspace.

(c) Communications. Each person operating an aircraft in Class D airspace must meet the following two-way radio communications requirements:​

(1) Arrival or through flight. Each person must establish two-way radio communications with the ATC facility (including foreign ATC in the case of foreign airspace designated in the United States) providing air traffic services prior to entering that airspace and thereafter maintain those communications while within that airspace.​

 

[Palmpilot]

And 91.123(b) requires us to obey ATC instructions absent an emergency.

 

[schmookeeg]

I was thinking the RV could claim radio issue or even "sorry I never heard him", never acknowledge an ATC instruction after that, and the feds would be toothless to hang him for it.

Just a mental thought. The more saturated the airspace around me gets (and more error-prone/entitled the pilots seem), the more I wonder when ATC is going to give "less grace" defensively, and this struck me as one of those potential situations for abuse.

 

[dmspilot]

I was thinking the RV could claim radio issue or even "sorry I never heard him", never acknowledge an ATC instruction after that, and the feds would be toothless to hang him for it.

Just a mental thought. The more saturated the airspace around me gets (and more error-prone/entitled the pilots seem), the more I wonder when ATC is going to give "less grace" defensively, and this struck me as one of those potential situations for abuse.

You have to establish and maintain...

 

[Pinecone]

At many (most?) Class D’s the tower controller can also be the ground controller/clearance delivery at unpredictable times so saying one can give the full request when the tower isn’t busy is a misnomer; unless you’re listening to Ground, you may not realize the controller is busy but you just don’t know. That’s why I just tend to make my first call with my N number unless I’m IFR and was just handed off by Approach, then I’ll say my N number, location, cleared approach, and ATIS.

You can tell by listening a bit.

If you hear him give taxi instructions and such, he is multi tasking slots.

 

[Llewtrah381]

You can tell by listening a bit.

If you hear him give taxi instructions and such, he is multi tasking slots.

True - IF they’re keying both mics at the same time, which is common but not universal when there’s one controller doing both roles