

The larger the field, very often the more experienced the pilot clientele. There is a substantial positive relationship between the size or busyness of an airfield and the typical rate of talk between airplanes and ATC. As a result, I recommend going to a small airfield and use the radio to listen to the pilot-ATC communications rather than listening to a major airport’s communications via an online feed.

This article is focusing on the radio communications one would most likely use as a new or student pilot. While the basic pilot communications between air carriers such as Southwest Airlines and Alaska airlines follow essentially the same rules as communications between a tiny, two-seater airplane and ATC, there are some differences. Although there are websites such as that allow one to listen in to real-time pilot-to-ATC communications, most of these websites get feeds from large airports.
#Pilot atc communications professional#
That’s why there are several professional programs available for download to enable a new or aspiring pilot to get used to those communications.Īn invaluable resource for a new or aspiring pilot is an aviation-receiving radio on which he or she can listen to pilot communications. It is very much like a foreign language to someone who does not know what to expect, or what the terms mean. When people hear ATC communications for the first time, or in fact for several first times, it can sound like almost total gibberish. These include but are not limited to familiarity with the jargon, communication rate, consideration of other pilots, using the proper phonetic alphabet, planning, timing and extraneous verbiage, and the adverse effects of the psychological set. There are several areas that relate to proper pilot communications. It is not only a source of great and deserved pride when a pilot effects his or her communication properly, but it can save considerable time and reduce a lot of unnecessary stress. Pilots are trained to use very specific methodology and terminology when they communicate over the radio with ATC (air traffic control). There is considerable finesse in handling pilot communications properly, but it is not the end of the world if you have flaws in your technique. Let’s begin with this: You can be a terrible communicator as a pilot, make every mistake I’m about to describe, and still have a safe and comfortable flight.
