AUS_ATC

ErickCFII,

Who do you know at NCT? I worked at Bay TRACON for six years prior to their move to NCT.

MEM_ATC

David Watts

When you give us pilots discretion or a crossing restriction do you want us to call and tell you when we are starting our descent?

rickair7777

Technically you are supposed to per the FARs (required IFR comms). In the radar / mode C world, few people do and ATC doesn't seem to complain. I think if they clear you PD, then nothing is supposed to be in your way...

miker1369

That is normally the case, nothing is in your way. I always like the call that you are out of the altitude, in case something did get in your way and we missed it.

duvie

A couple questions.

When checking in do you guys want us to give you our current vector heading (Beech XXX 190 150 heading assigned), clearance (direct COMET intersection) or anything else related to our lateral navigation?

Does the phrase "with you" bug controllers? I fly with a guy who gets irrate when he hears other pilots saying it ( a pilot over reacting? Never )

Does saying "one nine oh" (verses "one niner zero") bug you guys?

If I'm climbing I'll call XXX through thirteen six for seventeen thousand. If I'm level do you want to hear "XXX level seventeen thousand" or just "XXX seventeen thousand"

I realize some of these may seem nit-picky, but pet peeves are often based on small details. You guys do great jobs and I definitely would like to make it easier and less annoying for you.

AUS_ATC

This drives some Controllers absolutely crazy, while others will appreciate the info. As a Controller, I might issue a heading OR a direct routing. The next sector might not know exactly what you're doing, only that you are coming towards his airspace. If you check in with "heading 270" or "direct SOCIT", there will be no questions about what you're doing, and the next Controller will not need to assign a new heading or routing unless something different is required.

Controllers are just like the fellow sitting next to you in the cockpit. This phrase will just send some folks over the edge. I knew one controller at Bay TRACON who would always respond with, "... yea, well I'm with ya too!" and then keep on vectoring.

I'd suggest that you be as accurate as possible here. At least down to the nearest hundred foot increment. We are supposed to verify your altitude on initial contact in the system and/or when you enter our airspace. If there's a difference of more than 300 feet, then we have to start issuing the altimeter to you... verifying that you are at the assigned altitude... all of which could be avoided if you give us an accurate altitude reading.

Thanks for the consideration. We should try to do the same for you folks in the air as well.

There's nothing wrong with doing it "by the book" and being professional -- that will certainly keep us all out of trouble with any management types and FAA Suits who might be listening or looking to hang one of us. On the other hand, if it's kinda quiet on the frequency, a little easy-going friendly attitude makes the day go by fast.

MEM_ATC