By Barbara Huffman
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Long-term
readers of The Oklahoma Aviator know of my fear of talking
on the radio. The more I share my phobia, the more people
I find who have the same concerns. Many good pilots
will not fly into towered airports or controlled airspace
just because of radio communication fear. Should we
coin this towertalkaphobia?
Radio talk is not just filled
with jargon, short cuts, and language that some pilots
do not understand - it is often garbled and hard to
hear, especially through tinny speakers in the noisy
cockpit environment. Controllers do not always speak
as slowly and distinctly as they could. In the past,
I have wondered if they somehow derive a wicked pleasure
from confusing pilots instead of trying to help them
communicate-- which is very important for safety.
One big improvement is to use
headsets. By isolating radio traffic from other ambient
noises, headsets greatly improve the ability to at least
hear what is being said, even if one does not yet understand
it. And, since Michael and I retrofitted our headsets
with Automatic Noise Reduction kits, we can hear even
better.
But how can we learn to understand
all that confusing babble? And how in the world can
we get past our tongue-tied confusion and embarrassment
in knowing what to say in return?
This week I had the privilege
of taking a Radio Communications class with David Koehn
and Ron Berger, co-owners of Fast Forward Aviation at
Jones-Riverside Airport in Tulsa. As I walked into the
classroom, I feared the worst: making a total fool of
myself. But David and Ron quickly put me at ease, introduced
themselves and my classmates.
First, they assigned each of
us a fictitious N-number, which we wrote on our nametags.
Then we got down to business. With their easy, humorous
communication styles, I relaxed a little more. As the
three-hour class sped by, I began to realize that I
understood everything they were saying. Their prescription
for talking on the radio was pretty simple: say who
you are talking to, identify yourself, give your location,
and give your intention or request. It really was not
that hard!
We began practice by listening
to Automated Terminal Information Service (ATIS) broadcasts,
copying down current conditions at Riverside. It took
several times listening through the pre-recorded message
to understand it all, but in the process, we got a little
more familiar with the terminology and the rhythm of
ATC communications. Then we used that information to
practice departure and approach communications- and
it started to make sense. All you are really doing is
allowing someone else to help you be safe; letting another
pair of eyes watch you and keep you away from traffic
in the air and on the ground. "Maybe I can do this!"
I thought.
But when my turn came to practice
out loud in front of the class I was terrified - and,
yes, I made mistakes. But comfort came in realizing
that my classmates were in the same boat. We were all
learning together. Ron and David kept reiterating that
everyone makes mistakes, that no one can understand
and remember everything being said, and that asking
controllers to repeat
instructions is not just OK, but a very smart thing
to do.
We did some role-play where
the instructors acted as controllers and we acted as
pilots. They threw us a few curves, but by that time,
we were conditioned to ask for instructions to be repeated,
to request progressive instructions when too much information
was being presented, and to question bogus instructions.
When we did so, they praised us-- as good instructors
should! By then it had became evident that we were talking
with only another human being at the other end of the
microphone, not some angry deity who would punish us
for honest mistakes. I truly lightened up, and could
enjoy laughing at myself and my classmates as we moved
through our practice sessions.
Besides offering the monthly
radio communications course, Fast Forward Aviation provides
a full range of ground and flight instruction from Private
Pilot all the way through Air Transport Pilot, including
Instructor ratings. An FAA-approved ATC-610J Flight
Training Device (FTD) is available for initial or recurrent
instrument training.
Fast Forward has been in business at Riverside for over
a year, though the instructors have many years of experience.
All three partners are CFIIs and, in addition, David
Koehn and Wayne Cothran are MEIs. David and Ron are
CFIIs with the Gold Seal designation, an award granted
by the FAA for a high student pass rate. Wayne is also
ATP rated and a corporate and charter pilot.
"Our focus is on covering
the material, but making it interesting. Anyone can
sit alone and watch videotapes, but it is hard to just
stay awake, much less learn. There is really no substitute
for face-to-face teaching and learning. Being in a classroom
with other students is just the best," David explained,
"Our target audience includes those who want a
head start and those, previously working on their own,
who need a jump start. We are a less expensive option
than the local Part 141 schools."
These guys made a very scary thing easier for me. As
my shoulders relaxed and I stumbled through the practice,
and then improved, I began to see that I could really
slay the dragon of towertalkaphobia. I learned what
I needed to know and had a great time doing it!
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