Opposing Bases: Air Traffic Talk

Episode 278 Show Notes   Topic of the show: On this week's show, AG and RH share their opinion on a recent lost communication scenario in the NAS.   What type of questions should a pilot expect to get after getting the airplane back on the ground safely?   What considerations should be made during flight planning to account for the possibility of an emergency enroute?   And what would ATC do in th...

Episode 277 Show Notes   Topic of the show: RH and AG discuss the assignment of VFR flight following codes in busy Class Bravo airspace and how the services can be streamlined going in and out of an underlying Class Delta airport.   Why do some controllers issue codes and some do not?   Why is it so hard to get flight following when leaving certain Class Delta airports?   We answer these questions...

Episode 276 Show Notes (revised)   Topic of the show: On this week's show, RH and AG describe ways pilots can utilize the tools in their airplane to set up and fly a visual approach.   Can you follow the ILS glideslope or RNAV glideslope while you fly the visual approach?   Where is the fix ATC just cleared me to and why are they using it?   Find out some more tricks of the trade to be the best pi...

Episode 275 Show Notes   Topic of the show: When you're being vectored on the downwind over cold and unwelcoming waters, why can't the controller turn you in closer to the final approach fix?   When is it legal to give you a shortcut to keep you closer to the shore?   On this week's episode, we discuss the legality of close in vectors, the use of a visual or contract approach, and more of your avi...

Episode 274 Show Notes   Topic of the show: Sun 'n Fun 2023: RH's rookie year!   What an awesome week working arrivals, departures, and wanding with gusto!   RH breaks down each ATC spot with a little sample audio on each talking position.   If you've ever wondered how the air traffic side of things work at Sun 'n Fun, this is the episode for you!   "Team 1, you guys were the best team a rookie co...

Episode 273 Show Notes   Topic of the show: This week's show is about radar patterns.   What can you expect when you arrive from the departure side of the airport? How can you plan your descent when you are being sequenced to the airport under VFR?   Why do controllers keep you so far away from the field before placing you on final?   We answer all these questions and also discuss ELTs, flight ser...

Episode 272 Show Notes   Topic of the show: How can some airports run aggressive squeeze plays and compressed finals when some airports operate with much large gaps on a very slow final?   On this week's show, AG and RH discuss the major differences in airports that effect flow, efficiency, departure and arrival separation, and passenger experience.   We also discuss how you can prepare for traini...

Episode 271Show Notes   Topic of the show: What type of decision making and planning is involved when a controller takes decisive action to run a squeeze play?   What is a squeeze play?   Why is the anatomy of a squeeze play important when evaluating a given traffic scenario?   This week's show answers all those questions and dives deep into the parts of air traffic you don't hear on the news.   A...

Episode 270 Show Notes   Topic of the show: On this week's episode we discuss air traffic controller tone, delivery, and pilot perception.   Why do we sound grumpy sometimes?   What factors contribute to the controller's mood?   We also discuss flight following, the importance of filing a VFR flight plan, and more of your awesome aviation questions and feedback.   This was a really fun episode tha...

Episode 269 Show Notes   Topic of the show: When you are a newly certified pilot, air traffic controllers can be intimidating and the system can make new private pilots apprehensive about using the services available to them.   In this week's episode, we dive deep into a pilot's first real interaction with ATC after getting a rating; what went wrong and how can they improve or better understand wh...

Episode 268 Show Notes   Topic of the show: On Today's show we break down more details about visual approaches, dissect the soup sandwich departure near the Oracle Database Airport, and hear from a very aware student pilot on their first solo!   We are working with a new audio setup so our voices may sound a little different.   Enjoy the show!   Timely Feedback: 1 . SGAC Patron SE shares some insi...

Episode 267 Show Notes   Topic of the show: Today's show is jam packed with valuable information every pilot can take with them on their next flight.   We discuss a very complicated departure procedure and how to execute it safely considering how we would fly an ODP, managing flight plans and flight following, and lesson learned from a last second go around in IMC.   You don't want to miss this ep...

Episode 266 Show Notes   Topic of the show: When approach issues a visual approach clearance to a Class Delta airport, what are the expectations when entering the flow of traffic at the towered airport?  What if the pilot thinks the assigned entry is unsafe?  On this week's show, we will hear from a pilot that used their judgement to safely enter the airport traffic pattern, why ATC seemed upset,...

Episode 265 Show Notes   Topic of the show: Alpha Golf toured three facilities in the greater Cowboy Bravo area and shares all of his observations like the high volume of traffic, the complexity of the airspace, and the workload on each controller.  We also discuss go arounds, ADS-B coverage and equipage, and magically making a VFR aircraft IFR.  This is a really fun episode you won't want to miss...

Episode 264 Show Notes   Topic of the show: On this week's show, AG and RH explain why the arrivals and departures conflict, how we solve those issues at TRIAD, and why our airspace and traffic levels make the solution different than a larger Class Bravo airport.  We also discuss pop up IFR clearances and hear some audio of the world's fastest controllers.  You don't want to miss this episode!   T...

Episode 263 Show Notes   Topic of the show: Visual approaches can be one of the most poorly understood procedures for a newly certified instrument pilot.  On this week's show, AG and RH review some basic assumptions behind visual approaches, the timing of calling the field in sight, and understanding your position in relation to traffic off the airport.      Timely Feedback: 1 . Patron RM shares a...

Episode 262 Show Notes   Topic of the show: On today's show, we answer a question from a pilot that had a last second go-around with multiple aircraft in either direction.  What did ATC do right and what could they have done to improve the outcome of this traffic scenario?  What can the pilot do to prepare for an imminent go around and allow adequate time for ATC to formulate a backup plan?  We al...

Episode 261 Show Notes   Topic of the show: A student pilot is in busy airspace near a Class Bravo surface area without a Class B clearance.  What did the student say to get an immediate solution from ATC?  Find out on this episode.  We also discuss reroutes, listening skills, and the service provided by Angel Flight pilots.  This was a really fun way to start our 6th year doing weekly episodes. ...

Episode 260 Show Notes   Topic of the show: RH and AG celebrate the last episode of 2022 and the completion of five full years of weekly episodes!  On this week's show, we discuss visual approaches into busy Class D airports, the importance of alternate airport planning, approach request etiquette, approach plate nuances, and many more of your aviation questions.  We would like to wish the aviatio...

A fun collection of sound bites from 2022. Enjoy!

Episode 259 Show Notes   Topic of the show: We endorse flight following!  But what should you do if you can't break the controller away long enough to initiate flight following?  We will discuss busy airspace, conflicting traffic, and tools to ensure you get flight following services as early as possible.  We also discuss lost communication, alternate airports, and more of your awesome aviation fe...

Episode 258 Show Notes   Topic of the show: On this week's show, we will talk about last minute ATC amended instructions, how to handle them, and why they may be happening.  We also discuss ILS Critical Areas, confusing ATC instructions, and more of your awesome aviation questions and feedback!    Timely Feedback: 1 . Patron DR from Ireland shared some more friendly words about our American Englis...

Episode 257 Show Notes   Topic of the show: On this week's show, we discuss the filing of a flight plan to practice approaches at multiple airports in actual IMC weather.  How does a pilot let ATC know what they want to do in the filed flight plan?  What can the pilots do to maximize efficiency on a practice flight?  We also discuss easing back in to work after some time off, navigating busy airsp...

Episode 256 Show Notes   Topic of the show: This week, AG and RH get into the details of transitioning from an IFR approach and circling maneuver to VMC while joining traffic at a non-towered airport.  When should you cancel IFR?  Should you remain IFR until reaching the ground?  What other considerations should be made in determining when to cancel but remain safe.  We also discuss straight in ap...

Episode 255 Show Notes   Topic of the show: On this week's show we discuss double IFR flight plans, handling in flight malfunctions expeditiously but safely, and more of your awesome aviation questions and feedback.  Why was the controller trying to convince an inbound aircraft to a towered airport to cancel IFR?  What happened to their outbound flight plan?  And how can the pilot navigate the awk...