Lesson 15  Communication
Objectives Description Subject Areas Skills Class Organization Materials Necessary Skills Time Required Lesson Preparation Classroom Lesson Evaluation Applicable Notes     CAT II Flight Simulator Interior   Floor Plan Click Image	Objectives Flight Simulator 98 Teacher's Guide (15) To understand basic communication rules. Use Microsoft Flight Simulator 98 to help students: Gain a basic understanding of using Flight Simulator 98 Learn to use the “Help” menu. Learn to use the "Flight School", "Ground School" section. Understand the information contained in "Communication". Description This lesson is designed to help students understand the basic communication rules required of all pilots. Even when flying from an airport with no control tower and flying in unrestricted airspace, pilots must understand and use basic aviation communication skills.  The lesson only contains basic rules.  The Instructor should contact a local airport, pilot, or the FAA for more detailed information. Subject Areas This section is appropriate for classes studying Microsoft Flight Simulator Flying. Rules and Regulations.   Skills To complete this activity, students must:    Gain a basic understanding of aviation communication skills.    Learn to apply these rules while flying.   Class Organization The rules should be presented to the entire class.  It might be a good idea to have the students use the basic skills listed below as a way of communication during class.  As an example, each student could be assigned a call sign. The teacher would act as the tower. Using this idea and the rules, students would use the guidelines to communicate everything from leaving the class to sharpening a pencil. Materials Students should have a note book for documenting the basic communication rules and ICAO phonetic alphabet.  Use the 16 wireless headsets for communication in the lab. Skills Needed    Have a basic understanding of aviation communications.    Be able to help students understand and apply these rules.   Time Required Two class periods.  It is recommended that students be required to read the sections on "Communication" before class to reduce class time.  Time spent on this section may be extended to provide all students the opportunity to fly the simulators and apply communication skills.   Preparing for this Lesson Here are some ideas and hints to help the instructor prepare students for the lesson:   Talk about the importance of communications. The Instructor might want to use an old fashioned game to emphasize the importance of accurate communication.  One student whispers a short sentence to another and continue on until reaching the last student.  See if the last student repeats the same thing as the first student.   Remind students Students that wars have started over miss-communications and there have been major aviation accidents because of missed communications.  It would be helpful to visit an airport or FAA Control Center around the time of this lesson.   Students should be able to demonstrate their knowledge through verbal, written, or simulator exercises. Classroom Lesson All aircraft have call signs. An aircraft pilot or crew must communicate using that call sign. The most famous call sign is Air Force One. There are a wide range of names that are used on the ground by airports, towers and control centers. Here is a sample of a communication that might take place and an explanation of each. Columbus Ground,  Cherokee 6425 Quebec, requesting clearance to taxi for takeoff with information Mike. The plane calling always says the name of the facility they are calling, then their call sign, then the message.  In this case, Cherokee 6425 Quebec is calling Columbus Ground Control for clearance to taxi.  Information Mike at the end refers to ATIS (Automated Terminal Information Service) frequency that pilots tune to for the latest information about conditions and weather.  Each ATIS message is identified at the end with one letter of the ICAO Phonetic Alphabet.  This ID changes as the information is updated.  Pilots state the ATIS ID so that ATC/Ground can be sure that the pilot has the latest information.  Not all airports have ATIS. Cherokee 6425 Quebec, Columbus Ground, you are clear to taxi runway 27 via taxiway Alpha (A).  Hold short of runway and contact Departure on 121.5 for takeoff clearance. Columbus Ground has given Cherokee 6425 Quebec clearance to taxi to runway 27 using taxiway A. They also told the pilot to hold short of the runway and contact Departure Control on frequency 121.5 for takeoff clearance. At small airports, the pilot may have only one control facility to communicate with. The more traffic the airport handles, the more controllers pilots will have to communicate with.  In the case above, Columbus Ground handles all ground movement at the airport.  Departure Control handles all takeoffs. They may also handle all incoming traffic and be referred to as Approach Control.  Tower is involved in all takeoffs and landings.  Again, it depends on the airport.  Pilots normally check FAA Publications to determine what facilities are in place at each airport. Anytime the pilot switches from one control point to another, it is called a hand-off. Columbus Ground will hand-off the flight to Columbus Departure. Depending on the flight,  the pilot will be handed off to several other controllers before the flight is finished.  Normally, Approach and Departure will initially handle all incoming and outgoing flights for that airport.  Again, at a small airport the Tower may handle everything. Columbus Ground, Cherokee 6425 Quebec ROGER, understand we have clearance to taxi runway 27 via Alpha. This message is confirms to Ground Control that the pilot understands the instructions.  Sometimes, if things are busy, controllers will instruct the pilot to hold.  The pilot will taxi to the runway and hold short of the runway or taxi to a holding area close to the runway.   At busy times, the pilot might be in line behind several other planes.  Regardless, the pilot is prohibited from taxing on to the runway without clearance. Columbus Departure, Cherokee 6425 Quebec, request clearance for takeoff. Cherokee 6425 Quebec, Columbus Departure, you are cleared for takeoff runway TWO SEVEN.  Winds TEN knots out of TWO SIX ZERO, maintain runway heading on climb.  Contact Meridian Center 122.3 Columbus Departure, Cherokee 6425 Quebec, ROGER cleared for takeoff runway 27 contact Meridian Center 122.3  Columbus Departure has given the pilot clearance to takeoff.  They also provided wind speed and direction and told the pilot to remain on the runway heading of 270 and contact Meridian Center. This is another hand-off.  All airspace has sections.  Each ATC Center or Airport is responsible for all traffic in a certain section of airspace.  As soon as Cherokee 6425 Quebec has taken off, the pilot must remain on the runway heading and contact Meridian Center.  The pilot will stay on that heading until Meridian Center gives further instructions. Meridian Center, Cherokee 6425 Quebec Cherokee 6425 Quebec, Meridian Center, Radar Contact, turn left to heading TWO FIVE ZERO, climb and maintain 7,000, expect further instructions Meridian Center, Cherokee 6425 Quebec, ROGER turn heading TWO FIVE ZERO and climb to SEVEN THOUSAND. Meridian Center told the pilot that the aircraft is visible on RADAR and directed a left turn to 250 degrees, climb and hold altitude at 7,000 feet.  They also told the pilot to expect further instructions. Cherokee 6425 Quebec, Meridian Center, turn left heading 180, climb to 15,000 and contact Memphis Center on 120.8. Meridian Center, Cherokee 6425 Quebec, ROGER turn left heading 180, cleared from Seven Thousand to One Five Thousand In aviation, communications abbreviations are often used.  Cleared from 7 to 15 means that you are going from 7,000 feet to 15,000 feet. Once you have cleared 10,000 you will contact Memphis Center. Memphis Center, Cherokee 6425 Quebec Cherokee 6425 Quebec, Memphis Center, Radar Contact, Climb to 30,000, remain on present course Meridian Center, Cherokee 6425 Quebec, ROGER maintain heading 180, cleared to 30,000 Memphis Center now has control of the current airspace.  They will remain in control until the plane enters another control centers air space.  Once the pilot reaches assigned flight altitude and course,  contact with ATC will be less frequent.  The pilot must continue to monitor the controlling center's radio frequency.  The pilot will go through the same procedures in reverse to land and will be handed-off to different controllers until the aircraft comes to a stop. At uncontrolled airports in controlled airspace, pilots are still required to use the radio.  Pilots transmit position and intentions so that everybody else in the airport environment and traffic area is aware of it.   If a plane is coming in for landing and another plane enters the runway without making an announcement, the potential for accidents goes up.  Always keep in mind, that it does not matter if the pilot is at a controlled airport or uncontrolled,  the pilot is responsible for avoiding other aircraft.  Two airliners collided at Los Angeles International a few years ago when controllers told one plane to enter the same runway another was landing on.  The controllers were wrong, but the flight crew still has the responsibility for visually checking to make sure the runway is clear.   Students should have a basic understanding of the following: ICAO Phonetic Alphabet Basic Communication Rules    Evaluation Complete Understanding The evaluation process is divided into three categories. 1.  Basic Understanding:  Students should have a basic understanding of concepts.  This category includes true/false, multiple choice, verbal and simulation applications tests. 2.  Understanding and Application:  Students should have an understanding of concepts in this lesson, and they should be able to apply them.  This evaluation category includes essay, fill in the blank, and flight simulation applications tests. 3.  Complete Understanding:  This is a critical area.  Students should have a complete understanding of this area before progressing to the next lesson.  These lessons include concepts that the students must know in order to successfully complete the unit on flight and apply what they are learning on the simulators. Notes Air band radio receivers are inexpensive and a good tool for learning proper communication and phraseology.   Tune to a busy frequency and study the interaction between pilots and controllers. Copyright © 1999 Advanced Simulation Systems, Inc. Microsoft is a registered trademark and the Genuine Microsoft Products Logo is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States of America and in other countries. All Brand names are trademarks of their respective owners.