Sport Pilot Talk

CharlieTango · Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2009 3:23 pm Post subject:

tom,

flight design has the largest market share. a couple of years ago there were a number of landing accidents due to turning pilots loose in ctsw's too soon. i'm sure this is true in other designs as well but the ctsw may be among the most difficult slsa to transition into.

the lesson learned by flight design, the slsa industry and even the insurance carriers is that the transition needs to be taken seriously and might require some time.

the training worked and the pattern has ended or diminished.

as far as my experience goes flying light sport for 3 years i have received respect from atc and other pilots across the board.

the one exception was a grouchy controller in the camarillo, ca. as always i identified my self as 'Flight Design one zero two Charlie Tango' and it pissed this guy off. He demanded that i identify myself as light sport, ok no big deal, whatever you want. next morning i talk a female ground controller and say my usual and the old grouch voice gets on the ground frequency to chew me out for not saying light sport.

every other controller where ever i go knows 'flight design' and works well with that. if they ask for the type and i give it to them 'Foxtrot Delta Charlie Tango" they never match it up, doesn't happen often anymore. if they ask for the type i throw in, fixed wing 120kts and they are happy.

scottj · Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2009 10:44 pm Post subject: ATC Identifier

Sometimes they will call me an experimental. I then politely say 'no sir, I am a factory built certified Light Sport Aircraft.' My call sign is Flight Design. The identifier for your computer is FDCT -- Fox-trot, Delta, Charlie, Tango.

Once they can find us in their computer without too much extra effort on their part, everything goes well. I have never had a bad controller in the Minneapolis control area.

If we sound and act like "real" pilots, they will treat us as one. Learn the alphabet, know the lingo, and think before pressing the red button to transmit. You will never have a serious ATC problem again.

I have a white paper on making proper radio calls on my web site www.lsanorth.com/planning.htm You can also, of course, consult your FAR/AIM for additional guideance. :shock:

All of the new LSA pilots and airplanes need to be patient, professional, and educate the controllers you encounter. They are just as interested in keeping us flying safely as we are.

Scott Johnson
Chief Instructor
LSA North, Stick-n-Rudder Flight Training

PS Please also purchase yourself a good headset. Cheap ones only contribute to bad radio calls and give everyone a headache.

CharlieTango · Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2009 10:14 am Post subject:

the reason i throw in "fixed wing 120kts" when asked fro my type is whenever i have given "foxtrot delta charlie tango" alone the next question was always " are you a helicopter? "

it doesn't happen anymore, atc tends to know "flight design" now

jimhazen · Joined: 14 Apr 2007 Posts: 10 Location: Arizona

Maybe following the procedure for flight following would help.
Contact, who you are, what you are, where you are, what you want. It's almost the same as clearance delivery.

Example.
A/C Dallas approach N44469 request
APPOACH: N44469 say request
A/C Dallas approach, N44469 is an Allegro light sport, type code, Alpha Lima Golf Romeo, equipment slant Uniform, 8 miles west of Arlington @ 2,500, request VFR flight following to Sweetwater.
APPROACH: N469 Squawk 1234
A/C Squawk 1234, N469
APPROACH: N469 Radar contact 9 miles west of Arlington altitunde indicates 2,500, Arlington Altimeter 3010.
A/C Altimeter 30.10, N469

In 275 hrs of cross country flying to 48 states in my trusty LSA, I have had flight following in SoCal, NorCal, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Seattle, Kansas City, Chicago, Cleveland, New York, Washington, Atlanta, and Dallas. I have never had a problem with ATC or any rude comments from other pilots.

Let ATC know who you are before you start asking for stuff. Don't make them pry it out of you.