ErikU
Pre-takeoff checklist
I went to an ATC seminar a few weeks ago where we were told that 95% of the time we talk to military in the area, we are talking to totally new trainees.
While I usually get very good service from these guys, there have been a couple things that have made me go hmm...
There is a Army Airfield that gets almost zero use.. I even asked a controller why they have an airport there if it doesn't get used,. he didn't know why. So I was asking for a VFR transition once.. had to ask and rephrase it about five times, and correct my tail number and type several times. He came back and said things like "you want to transport where?" I would say "Negative, requesting TRANSITION eastbound at 2000ft" He would say "transfer complete"... I would say "uhhh... are you saying my TRANSITION is approved"? went back and fourth like this for a while. He finally came back and said "TRANSACTION approved". I figured that was good enough. I could have been a smart ass and asked for a receipt though.
Yesterday I transitioned an Air Force Base that is adjacent to the Army Airfield. I asked the AFB controller if he could coordinate a handoff to the AAF since I would be going through both. After getting the frequency change to the Army Airfield, my exchange went something like this: "Gray tower Bonanza 5894S 5 south on the transition westbound at 1500ft" The reply was "Cessna 534x, say position" Went like that for a bit until he understood. Then he says simply "Roger, contact Seattle". huh??? I say "I'm not asking for flight following, just for a transition" He says "roger, contact Seattle". Seattle who??? on what frequency??? and why? (and no, Seattle approach doesn't own this airspace by letter of agreement) At this point I am over the center of the airfield squaking the code the adjacent tower gave me. I say again where I am, what I want to do, and that I am on the code from the next door controller. He says "roger, contact seattle". Ok.. I give up. I just monitored the frequency until I was clear, told him I was clear and would now squawk 1200. I know, I know, I shouldn't have done that... but we just couldn't communicate and there wasn't much left for me to do.
pretty funny. I'll bring a tape recorder next time and share!
While I usually get very good service from these guys, there have been a couple things that have made me go hmm...
There is a Army Airfield that gets almost zero use.. I even asked a controller why they have an airport there if it doesn't get used,. he didn't know why. So I was asking for a VFR transition once.. had to ask and rephrase it about five times, and correct my tail number and type several times. He came back and said things like "you want to transport where?" I would say "Negative, requesting TRANSITION eastbound at 2000ft" He would say "transfer complete"... I would say "uhhh... are you saying my TRANSITION is approved"? went back and fourth like this for a while. He finally came back and said "TRANSACTION approved". I figured that was good enough. I could have been a smart ass and asked for a receipt though.
Yesterday I transitioned an Air Force Base that is adjacent to the Army Airfield. I asked the AFB controller if he could coordinate a handoff to the AAF since I would be going through both. After getting the frequency change to the Army Airfield, my exchange went something like this: "Gray tower Bonanza 5894S 5 south on the transition westbound at 1500ft" The reply was "Cessna 534x, say position" Went like that for a bit until he understood. Then he says simply "Roger, contact Seattle". huh??? I say "I'm not asking for flight following, just for a transition" He says "roger, contact Seattle". Seattle who??? on what frequency??? and why? (and no, Seattle approach doesn't own this airspace by letter of agreement) At this point I am over the center of the airfield squaking the code the adjacent tower gave me. I say again where I am, what I want to do, and that I am on the code from the next door controller. He says "roger, contact seattle". Ok.. I give up. I just monitored the frequency until I was clear, told him I was clear and would now squawk 1200. I know, I know, I shouldn't have done that... but we just couldn't communicate and there wasn't much left for me to do.
pretty funny. I'll bring a tape recorder next time and share!