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Bob Gardner
While not a pilot, and not *directly* responding to the thread topic, I'm goig to throw my two cents worth on he floor . . .
As a former public safety dispatcher, long-time radio hobbiest (is that a word), and current avionics student, I'm weighing in from the "how can I contact you if that were to become necessary?" position - that was alluded to earlier in the thread.
I understand the frustration with unnecessary radio clutter. Sometimes a simple, "10-4" is all that's needed, not a ten-second read-back. On the other hand, if you switch off dispatch, then run into problems, who will hear you if no one knows where to be listening. I digress . . . back to aviation . . . At a towered field, read-backs are not only helpful, they are expected. When the controller says, "Contact departure on 126.6," they expect the pilot to respond with, "126.6," and then go there. Unless the frequency is entered wrong, or the <--> button isn't pressed, the pilot's next radio transmission will be on 126.6 MHz.
Why does that matter? Let me offer a hypothetical:
Pilot takes off from Dirtroad Airpark, using 122.8MHz, the CTAF. Conditions are IFR or Marginal VFR. Somewhere out there, he experiences a problem that forces him (or her) to get back on the ground quickly. Rules are: Aviate . . . Navigate . . . THEN Communicate. If the pilot manages to get to the third one, chances are it will be just push the little red button and say, "Here I come, Dirtroad . . ." even if he/she switched to a different frequency.
When should the next departing pilot "assume" that the first pilot has switched frequencies, and know where to listen for someone with a problem who may try to occupy the same point in space, at the same time, ESPECIALLY if the departing pilot can't SEE the aircraft with a problem?
The Common Traffic Advisory Frequency is only effective when the pilot is able to dial it in. Otherwise, where are you?
OK, that was more than two cents worth . . .
Sent from my Note 8 using Tapatalk
Aviation does not use 10 codes..."10-4" is not acceptable. "Roger" is an acknowledgement and means "I have heard your transmission." It does not mean "yes." "Affirmative" is aviation's "yes." "Wilco" is a commitment; it means "I understand your transmission and will comply."
Go to www.faa.gov and search for the Aeronautical Information Manual. Scroll down to 4-3-18 and you will find instances in which a controller is required to obtain a readback; readbacks are not expected except in narrowly defined instances. Pilots are required to read back altitudes and headings, and that is about it. "Wilco" is a perfectly acceptable response to a clearance...I have heard airline pilots say "We'll do all that" after receiving a clearance.
Bob Gardner