TheBaron

As is typical here, we have too many that try to make this job harder than it needs to be. Now was that 1 enter, 2 knocks, 1 enter or 1 enter, 1 enter, and 2 knocks?

Adlerdriver

The best one I've heard to date is......

"Make up a different knock, 1 enter combo each time you leave. Make sure you tell me what it is before you leave, otherwise you'll have to call me on the interphone to get access."

On my third head call, I said I was going to do 1-enter 25 times. That didn't go over real well......

md11phlyer

8951, 8915, 6655, 6667, 9952, 13300.

In that order. You'll find somebody.

Sideshow Bob

Dude...

It's gone beyond silly.

The A380 is using the "super" prefix.

TheBaron

You will be immediately pegged as a cherry boy from Memphis or a UPS crew. Also try not to say tree for three and fife for five. AND DON"T TALK LOUD AND SLOW...they aren't dumb over here.

Adlerdriver

Okay, I'll ask the obvious....... any particular reason why you feel this is wrong? Should we avoid the "er" on "niner", too?

Huck

Nothing wrong with talking slow. They're looking for certain phrases, certain terms. Going fast doesn't help that.

Or you can repeat yourself three times. Especially in China.

Archie Bunker

Yeah, go ahead and talk at normal speed, and throw in some non-standard lingo to some marble mouthed Chinese controller over Urumqi, Chengdu or Guiyang's airspace...see how far that gets you.

When it comes to controllers, China is hit or miss. I've heard some really good English speakers, and I've heard others that were completely unintelligible. This probably isn't helped by the fact that the controllers are speaking Chinese to 90% of the traffic on the radio. As an English speaker, I don't have a clue what's going on around me (an extra added benefit of flying over China).

I've found that when I speak slower, and use standard terminology, the controllers usually understand. Use a non-standard word/phrase, or request something that would be normal in the states, and I guarantee you the controller will be confused, followed by a long pause, and a "say again."

TheBaron

There is a big difference between speaking clearly and talking slowly. I've flown with guys that act like they are speaking to a baby or a pet. They (Asian controllers) understand English better than they speak it, granted, but they speak it better than any of you speak their language I'll wager. Never been asked to "say again" and I speak in a normal tone at a normal pace. I don't say tree, fife, or niner (unless I'm on a bad HF connection) and have never been misread. I also don't say " coming right to heading 270" every time I'm given a heading to fly...very wordy and ties up the frequency. And I don't have to ask for frequencies....I pay attention.

P.S. I'm also humble about my extraordinary skills.

TheBaron

P.S.S And don't call Tokyo or SFO radio with a position report and finish up by saying " ... and we are CPDLC"