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Aerospace Education Class Idea for use in squadron meetings

I recently taught an AE class at my squadron where I ran the cadets through the radio communications that occur during a cadet orientation flight out of our local (towered) airport. This included ATIS, clearance, ground, tower, approach, tower, and ground. By the end of the class they had a better understanding of who we talk to during a flight, where those people are located, and how we phrase our communications.

I thought an outline of this 35-minute class might be useful to other squadrons. If your squadron wants to run the class, feel free to have your AE officer call me for information. If you need help or would like a guest instructor, give me a call and I'd be happy to help.  Tel 203-698-2600; fax 203-698-2673; malcolm@aya.yale.edu

Class outline: aircraft radio communications

1. I started by reading a sample ATIS and examining it part by part. We touched on "zulu time," compass headings, and how runways are named.

2. We discussed aviation radio phraseology, introducing the cadets to the standard order of information:

1. Whom you are calling                        [ "Westchester Ground,

2. Who you are                        [ CAPFLIGHT 1234,

3. Where you are                        [ at Zulu tiedown,

4. What information you have (optional)                        [ with information Alpha,

5. What you want.                        [ request taxi to active."

(Reference: FAA Aeronautical Information Manual, chapter 4, section 2)

 We tried this format out on some more familiar material. What would a phone conversation sound like if we used this order of information? Let's say Cadet Anderson was calling Cadet Baker on the phone to ask for a lift to the squadron meeting. What would the call sound like? "Cadet Baker, Cadet Anderson, at home, request a ride to the meeting."

 3. We proceeded to ground communications. A rough diagram of runways and
taxiways on the blackboard helped to illustrate the use of "hold short" clearances and "cross runway" clearances during taxi. It also allowed us to demonstrate the type of instruction that we might receive from the ground controller "taxi to runway 11 via taxiways Alpha and Charlie; hold short of runway 16-34." Once we drew the course that the controller wanted us to take, the initially confusing instruction made sense.

 4. We discussed tower communications, including "hold short," "position and hold," and "cleared for takeoff."

 5. Then we discussed the procedure for returning to the airport, which in our area include contacting New York Approach and receiving a discrete "squawk code" before speaking to tower and eventually to ground.

 6. At the end of the class we did two "sample flights" where the cadets had to tell me "what happens next"; what frequency to tune in, who to talk to, what to ask for, and how to phrase the request. I played the part of the ATC controller.

The cadets got involved in our "flights" and enjoyed the class. I think it will help them better understand the communications that transpire during their orientation flights. I always like to let the cadets to at least some of the radio communications during O-flights and this may make them sound a little more confident when they do.

Next time I teach this class, I'll bring in a tape-recording of the ATIS from our local airport, hopefully two subsequent versions, to simulate what they would hear before takeoff and what they might hear on return (changed wind direction, different runway in use, etc.). I'll also bring a xerox of the relevant part from AIM (chapter 4, section 2) for each cadet. It includes the phonetic alphabet and lots of sample conversations.