Midwest Chick's Place

(A.K.A. Non-Original Rants)

–Co-opting good stuff from all over the ‘Net and maybe some original thoughts—ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒE

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Learning the comms

 Now that we’re able to fly to places and actually do things, B is teaching me how to handle the comms and is walking me through readbacks once we’re up and cruising.  

With a touch screen, it’s a lot easier for me to put in new frequencies and make the switch since I’m not also handling the rest of the stuff necessary to keep us in the sky.

I’m getting pretty good at it and have also been practicing visually locating other planes that show up on the iPad or airports that we’re passing by.  I’m also pretty good at catching our tail number when ATC calls it.

I took some lessons at B’s request so that I understand pitch and power,  airspeed, straight and level flight, etc.  

Makes it a lot more fun to be involved in the process and I like helping!

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Midwest Chick

6 responses to “Learning the comms”

  1. Avatar
    Anonymous

    I grew up at general aviation airports and had a similar experience. Plus – and this won't register to those under 40 – when the fat envelope from Jeppeson arrived each month it was my job to update the chart books. After which I was quizzed by the family's PIC “plot a course from A to B, include heading and frequency changes, mandatory minimum altitudes, fuel consumption and refueling points; you have 10 minutes” (the airspace was DCA, and I received no extra points for Degree of Difficulty – some headings involved A degrees for B minutes at groundspeed C above altitude D before changing to heading A2 to stay out of prohibited airspace). Fun times. And years later when I spent a couple years “wearing funny clothes and walking around out in the woods” I was the only one who could always get us to where we needed to be by reading the map and navigating with a compass.

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  2. Avatar
    Anonymous

    Good for you! You're now the safety observer, which IS a critical job!

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  3. Avatar
    Anonymous

    Anonymous–I do know Jeppeson chart books–had to use them in ground school. It's funny, but I know exactly where we are when we are in my home-town airspace just by finding one or two points. NFO–It's something I can do to help! Besides it's just cool to spot a plane that's close by and be able to say 'No Factor'. 🙂

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  4. Avatar
    Anonymous

    I grew up at general aviation airports and had a similar experience. Plus – and this won't register to those under 40 – when the fat envelope from Jeppeson arrived each month it was my job to update the chart books. After which I was quizzed by the family's PIC “plot a course from A to B, include heading and frequency changes, mandatory minimum altitudes, fuel consumption and refueling points; you have 10 minutes” (the airspace was DCA, and I received no extra points for Degree of Difficulty – some headings involved A degrees for B minutes at groundspeed C above altitude D before changing to heading A2 to stay out of prohibited airspace). Fun times. And years later when I spent a couple years “wearing funny clothes and walking around out in the woods” I was the only one who could always get us to where we needed to be by reading the map and navigating with a compass.

    Like

    Reply
  5. Avatar
    Anonymous

    Good for you! You're now the safety observer, which IS a critical job!

    Like

    Reply
  6. Avatar
    Anonymous

    Anonymous–I do know Jeppeson chart books–had to use them in ground school. It's funny, but I know exactly where we are when we are in my home-town airspace just by finding one or two points. NFO–It's something I can do to help! Besides it's just cool to spot a plane that's close by and be able to say 'No Factor'. 🙂

    Like

    Reply

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