To help learn
correct and efficient air communication phraseology, use the resources
and learning strategies in the VFR and/or IFR Communication Kits.
If you follow the actions listed below, you will become an accomplished
aviation communicator quickly and without a lot of stress:
1.
If at all possible, secure a copy of the VFR and/or IFR Communications
Kit before your first ground school class and your first flight
training session. This may be an ideal goal, but try to get one
or both of the Kits as soon as possible.
2.
Read and review the following sections of the book BEFORE your
first ground school class and your first flight training session,
if possible;
a.
Suggested Users – select the appropriate
category
(1 minute),
b.
Template Description and Tips and the accompanying
actual template blanks (30 – 45 minutes),
c.
Template Assembly Instructions (5 minutes),
d.
VFR -- Airport Approach and Departure Communication
Guide
or
IFR – IFR Communications Template Guide
(5 minutes),
e.
VFR – Assembled Templates Example
or
IFR – Sample Flights 1, 2, and 3 (10
minutes).
You will spend
about an hour reading and reviewing the Kit. This time spent will
literally save you hours of flight training time and reduce your
stress levels significantly.
3.
Bring your Kit with you to your ground school. Show it to your
Ground School Instructor. He or she may wish to learn more about
the Kit. Don’t hesitate to refer them to our website www.hcwardco.com
for more information.
4.
Ask your Ground School Instructor if he or she wants to incorporate
the Kit into the ‘Airspace and Communications’ component
of the ground school for all the students. Another less formal
option would be for you to show the Ground School Instructor and
the class, how to construct a communications ‘script’
based upon local conditions and your particular flight school’s
protocols.
5. Show the Kit to your CFI and explain how it is supposed to be
used while flying. He or she may wish to learn more about the
Kit. Just as with your Ground School Instructor, don’t hesitate
to refer them to our website www.hcwardco.com
for more information.
6.
Prepare a communications ‘script’ for your next flight
session using the assembly instructions in the Kit. You should
do this at the same time that you conduct your other preflight
requirements, usually within 24 hours of the flight mission.
7.
PRACTICE the communications ‘script’ several times.
You may wish to have a colleague or friend listen to you for accuracy
and the cadence of your delivery.
8.
Present your prepared preflight materials, including your communications
‘script’, to your CFI for review and any editing changes
that may be required. Be sure to secure the script to your knee-board,
lap-board, or binder. A cockpit is a busy place, so place your
script in an easy to use and comfortable position. Your CFI will
be of great help with this issue.
9.
At each point in your flight session where a communication is
required, you should quickly refer to the appropriate template
in your communication script before speaking. After a few flights
your ‘delivery’ of the expected communication will
get smoother and quicker. It just takes practice.
There will
be times when the next communication from ATC will require you
to do a 'readback.' Please note that the templates are set up
as complete sentences with sections left open to be filled in
by you. Just fill in the information supplied by ATC on the template
and do a quick 'readback.'
If you have
practiced your script several times, then the script’s templates
will quickly become like ‘note cards for a speech.’
For example, there will be some templates that you will rarely
refer to while speaking, while others, such as the Clearance Delivery
template that you may refer to for a 'read back, often.
Since you
will have prepared the script to match the sequence of the flight
session, all you need to do to stay on track during your flight
is turn over the template pages with each communication. Here
again, practice before you fly is the key to smooth communications.
You may encounter
communications from ATC and other pilots that you may not have
anticipated. Your CFI will help with these in the beginning. Listen
to how those communications are performed and note the words,
phrases, and sentences used.
10.
At the end of each flight session, be sure to ask your CFI to
critique all your communications. This critique will point to
areas of competency and areas where more practice is needed. Note
the CFI’s communications suggestions so that the next flight
will go even smoother. Don’t be discouraged! Within just
a few flights your communications during all phases of flight
will be efficient and correct. REALLY!
11.
Until you are told otherwise, prepare a complete communications
‘script’ for each flight session. Remember that you
are not required to read the script verbatim! If you practice
your communications before each flight, only selected templates
of the script will need to be used on occasion during the flights.
Your CFI will let you know when you no longer need to bring along
your complete script.
That is not
to say that the script can’t be used in the future. On the
contrary, many pilots continue to prepare and use complete or
partial scripts long after their training.
12.
Don’t hesitate to ask for help or make comments about the
communications portion of your flight training to your CFI and/or
your Ground School Instructor.
