We

[201er]

I hear most pilots say "we" on the radios in contact with ATC and have gotten in the habit of doing so myself. For example, "we'll be needing the ILS approach" or "here's a pirep, we are experiencing some light chop..." I realize that in most cases it is coming from two man crews. However, you'll hear plenty of the same from GA airplanes. Some it may be a student + instructor or even perhaps a pilot + passengers. But I hardly ever recall a pilot ever saying "I." Its always "we," which leads me to the conclusion that we is actually referring to "the plane and I."

ATC calls us by N number. They are not calling us by name as individuals but as representatives of that aircraft. "We" is the aircraft that is being referred to plus I as the individual speaking on its behalf

So when the pilot acknowledges ATC with, "we're  encountering a good bit of turbulence but will do our best to maintain this altitude," even if he is the sole occupant, he's referring to the teamwork between himself and his craft. Does anyone else see it this way?

[Hank]

But Mike, you have a permanent copilot now! When you say "we," on the radio or in casual conversation, it's both of you. And no, I don't mean the parrot . . .  

[Skates97]

I was in the habit of saying "We" from the time I spent learning to fly with my CFI. Even so, I almost always have someone else in the plane with me. I have made a mental effort a couple times alone to say "I" but it honestly sounded weird so I went back to "We." I like your reasoning Mike, I think I'll use it if anyone ever asks why I say "We" when I'm flying solo. 

[aviatoreb]

We are cruising at 8 thousand feet, just me and my trusty anthropomorphized mooney airplane that sometimes I refer to as she-plane.  The two us are enjoying our alone time together in the clouds.

[ArtVandelay]

Skip the pronouns:
Request the ILS approach
Got some light turbulence
Level 8000 (I skip the "with you")

Sometimes I use tail number: N123 has the weather

Unless the tone gets casual... I try to skip the extra verbage.

[jackn]

Stranger yet, 

XXX traffic, YOU have a Mooney 10 to the south, making left traffic for runway xx.

 

[Jeff_S]

With TJ, actually. Don't recall using much in the way of pronouns. Short and sweet, action verbs, nouns and appropriate prepositions. There're enough "long talkers" down here in the South!

[Brian Scranton]

How come it's never, "We'll be paying for that overhaul together..."?

[rbridges]

When I had surgery for diverticulitis, I remember nurses asking how "we" were doing. I always thought "we" were having very different days.   I think it's just habit in a lot of circles. 

[Bravoman]

39 minutes ago, rbridges said:

When I had surgery for diverticulitis, I remember nurses asking how "we" were doing. I always thought "we" were having very different days.   I think it's just habit in a lot of circles. 

"We" in that context was you and your colon  !

[rbridges]

20 minutes ago, Bravoman said:

"We" in that context was you and your colon  !

In that case, we were in a disagreement. 

[BDPetersen]

It's always good to make ATC think you have them outnumbered.

[whiskytango]

It's the Royal We, as in "We are not amused"

[aviatoreb]

I'm still going with the anthropomophonized mooney theory.

[Jim Peace]

Have been part of a 2 to 4 man crew for years...so used to saying "We" that I find that I even say it when I am alone in the Mooney.