Monday, January 18, 2010

Where on the internet can I find out about air traffic control and vhf radio?

I want to start from scratch and learn all about air traffic control (as in what to say) is there a free website that can tell me all this, all of the commands, codewords and when I need to speak to speak to them. I don't have a plane or anything but i'd like to know some things before I get into the world of Aviation!Where on the internet can I find out about air traffic control and vhf radio?
Here are two such sites. One with ATC phraseology and a second to listen to actual live transmissions between pilots and controllers all over the world.Where on the internet can I find out about air traffic control and vhf radio?
Head on over to VATSIM, at http://www.vatsim.net. It's a virtual flight network on which you can learn to be an air traffic controller and then control other people flying aircraft in a virtual environment that is almost exactly like the real thing. You can join for free, and even the ATC radar simulation software is free for downloading. The training program takes a while but when finished you'll be pretty good at controlling, and if you ever decide to become a real-world air traffic controller, you'll have a head start on the concepts.
Listening to live air traffic isn't going to be the best idea if you want to know EXACTLY what controllers are supposed to say. If you read the FAAO 7110.65 (ATC Bible), you will find the EXACT words and phraseology you need to say anything to a pilot. I'm a controller that was trained by the Air Force. In the Air Force, we are very strict about using proper phraseology. Now that I am working FAA, I have found that they aren't strict about that at all. It is like a casual conversation when you are not supposed to talk like that on the radio. If you google '7110.65' you will find free links to read the ATC Bible. When people use phraseology that isn't in the 7110.65, some people refer to it as 'cowboy' phraseology and is usually used by experienced controllers. Because you are new, I highly suggest you learn the right way to speak to a pilot before you develop bad habbits that are hard to break.

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