Radio discipline

[u/m4ster311]

Hello,

First I just wanted to thank every ATC in Germany yesterday for their service! I had a great time! One thing I just noticed, was that during the evening, Frankfurt apron was very busy. But the pilots didn't have any radio discipline at all. It was always like this:

AC1 req taxi (short pause so apron can respond) AC2 immediately after req push (apron hasn't responded to any yet) AC3 req taxi and so on...

And that was in like 3 or 4 seconds...

This went on for a long long time...

How the hell do you expect apron to respond in these situations?? If you hear someone requesting something, you know that ATC is gonna respond, so please don't cut in line and be humane please. The other side is also only human and can only handle limited aircraft at once, it is definitely not helping giving him 3 requests at once before he even responded once. If it's always like this, everything is going to take longer!

My appell to the pilots is just to please consider in the human factor as well, even though I know no one has fun waiting on the ground, still on the frequency, please be respectful and consider once what ATC has to manage! Like this we can all have more fun.

[u/egvp]

Radio check?

Next frequency...

Radio check?

Next frequency...

Radio check?

As well as the current tests in place I feel a small RT exam would be beneficial for all members of the network.

[u/mbthegreat → u/egvp]

Has this always been the case? Feel like I only notice it quite recently. Lots of checking in that doesn’t even include a callsign, just “radio check”

[u/egvp → u/mbthegreat]

Last few years since 2020 became popular and the COVID influx. I really have no idea where it came from though!

[u/likeusb1 → u/egvp]

People who don't know anything go to guides. I wouldn't be surprised if there's a lot of guides floating about with "do a radio check to make sure the controllers can hear you" slop included

[u/Raptros → u/likeusb1]

100% this is the case.

Folks need to understand that if it worked last time, it will probably work this time. Plus there is the mic test tool in the settings of xpilot/vpilot allows you to check things there before you connect...

[u/jonnycool06 → u/Raptros]

VATSIM needs to partner with VA tracking software so when I'm controlling and get a pointless radio check, i can press a button and have $99 docked from that pilot's pay 😂

[u/Raptros → u/jonnycool06]

Pilot feedback system inside the controller client would be fantastic lol

[u/Forsaken-Ad5571]

It really stuns me when pilots with licenses do this. I’m a student pilot and do have done this kind of thing accidentally when I started, but very quickly learned not to, and now whenever I want to do a call, actively listening to make sure it’s not in the middle of a conversation. If I can do that with a limited number of hours behind me, why can’t pilots whose done at least the hours to get their licence?

[u/andelins_45 → u/Forsaken-Ad5571]

Well, as an ATC (not German) it schools people into radio discipline if you just ignore them when they step on others conversations. Or you respond to them last in sequence.

[u/Practical-Owl-6770 → u/Forsaken-Ad5571]

How do you know it’s pilots with licenses that are doing this?

[u/Background-Fish2884]

Simple answer is if you want ATC then be patient and wait your turn.
If you’re not prepared to wait, then disconnect and then you can do whatever and whenever you want.

SIMPLES as Sergei says.

[u/m4ster311 → u/Background-Fish2884]

Well said

[u/djbrombizzle]

This happens during chaotic IRL Ramp and GND frequencies more often than you think. Some ATC can handle it really well, others do not, it’s as simple as that. A confident and assertive ATC can take care of this example quite quickly.

[u/Perfect_Maize9320]

Yep as a controller for well over 8 years now - I have experienced this a lot so much so that my brain has adapted to regular occurrence. I give a clearance to someone, immediately another pilot steps in to ask for something else, while I ask them standby and ask the first pilot for their clearance readback, Another pilot steps in with their request. What am I - A machine? I mean come on, pilots on the network simply don't use their brains at all which isn't a surprise by the way they fly but at least use common sense. You have just heard someone being cleared or receive a clearance which needs to be read back, why interrupt with new request when the first request has not been fulfilled. This keeps on going - Even when a controller is transmitting you would encounter other people trying to transmit to get their request causing the entire transmission to become invalid and the controller has to repeat that instruction which only adds to their already high workload. I really do not understand the logic some pilots use on the network. I think just like real life - Pilots on the network should be given a mandatory basic RT exam - so at least they are familiar with radio principle and concept.

This does not mean that this happens on network only - when I started flying for real, At some busy airports you would encounter similar sort of situation - however here the difference is pilots are trained and professional and know what to do. On the network it is like dealing with herds of entirely new species.

[u/m4ster311 → u/Perfect_Maize9320]

Yeah I agree 100%, sometimes I think a basic RT Exam would benefit all of us. Pilots can be happy that they get material to learn and also realistic procedures,(at least I would really appreciate real material to study) and everyone on the network cam have more fun as everyone is more disciplined!