Jump to content

Say Type?  

82 members have voted

  1. 1. What do you respond with when ATC asks you to say type or "say type of aircraft" ?

    • Mike Two Zero
      0
    • Emm Twenty
      2
    • Mike Two Zero (Papa or Tango, as appropriate)
      32
    • Emm Twenty (Papa or Tango, as appropriate)
      26
    • Mooney (Or Turbo Mooney, as appropriate)
      22


Recommended Posts

Posted

I'm not totally set on what I say.   Usually "Mike Two Zero Tango" or "Mike Two Zero Tango, I'm a Turbo Mooney"

Posted

I do not know why, but I got into saying "emm" but then add "papa" so it is a mix of conventional and aeronautical alphabets for EMM TWENTY Papa slant Golf.  

  • Like 2
Posted
55 minutes ago, Bolter said:

I do not know why, but I got into saying "emm" but then add "papa" so it is a mix of conventional and aeronautical alphabets for EMM TWENTY Papa slant Golf.  

Same for me, I don't know why either as I don't think I skip the phonetics on any other calls.

  • Like 3
Posted

Never even thought about this until now!  No real idea how/when I decided on EMM TWENTY Papa slant Golf.

Posted

I think I do something similar to others - I always say "Mike Twenty Papa" (not "two zero").  I don't provide an equipment suffix unless asked.

I selected "Mike Two Zero Papa" but I actually say "Mike Twenty Papa" ...

Posted

The only times i have them ask is if i don’t already have an IFR clearance already in the system.  I. E. I pickup a clearance in the air. 

Posted
2 hours ago, Bolter said:

I do not know why, but I got into saying "emm" but then add "papa" so it is a mix of conventional and aeronautical alphabets for EMM TWENTY Papa slant Golf.  

I do the same, "Emm" twenty Papa. They already know I'm a Mooney so figure the "Emm" works just as well as Mike.

  • Like 1
Posted
2 hours ago, N201MKTurbo said:

I just say Mooney. If they enquire more I say M20T.

Usually I just say, "Mooney", but once I was specifically asked "what model", so M20P.

 

  • Like 1
Posted

Sounds like you all have the right idea, to give your FAA/ICAO type and not your airframe manufacturer model - which i hear all the time on the radio.
This is only important when you’re asking for IFR services. VFR they seem to take anything including just Mooney - i am sure they just default it M20P.
Where i fly, thanks to TEC routes, we can request IFR service from ground without a pre-filed ifr flight plan. So we do this a lot on the radio - and we’ll get a pre-canned IFR routing. This works in Socal and Norcal and i think New York Tracon airspace too as long as the destination is in their airspace.
These days the controllers treat every one as a /G since the others are beyond rare - at least that’s what they tell me and i visit the Tracon every semester with my IFR students.

Just don’t answer with a Mooney J or Mooney Ovation etc. controllers size you up right away based on your phraseology and attentiveness on the radio - but this is the busiest airspace and pilots get dropped all the time if your increasing their workload with VFR services like practice approaches.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Posted (edited)

I’m a retired controller and, oddly enough, aircraft types are one of those things we often say in a folksy group form way rather than in the strict phonetic way.  So, I say, “Mooney Emm Twenty Papa.”  That plants the “Mooney” seed in the controller’s head for communication and gives the type code for the computers.

Edited by N204TA
  • Like 1
Posted

So, it depends. If it is a tower guy who just has to run the pattern, Mooney is just fine. That way he knows what he is looking for.

If it is someone who is going to load you into the system then M20P/T is what they need. 

Posted
1 hour ago, N201MKTurbo said:

So, it depends. If it is a tower guy who just has to run the pattern, Mooney is just fine. That way he knows what he is looking for.

Not only that, but everybody else around the pattern will also have an idea about how big or fast or slow or maneuverable you are and what you look like, so they all can work around you appropriately as well.    Not very many people will know what M20P/T are.

 

Posted
4 hours ago, kortopates said:

Sounds like you all have the right idea, to give your FAA/ICAO type and not your airframe manufacturer model - which i hear all the time on the radio.
This is only important when you’re asking for IFR services. VFR they seem to take anything including just Mooney - i am sure they just default it M20P.
Where i fly, thanks to TEC routes, we can request IFR service from ground without a pre-filed ifr flight plan. So we do this a lot on the radio - and we’ll get a pre-canned IFR routing. This works in Socal and Norcal and i think New York Tracon airspace too as long as the destination is in their airspace.
These days the controllers treat every one as a /G since the others are beyond rare - at least that’s what they tell me and i visit the Tracon every semester with my IFR students.

Just don’t answer with a Mooney J or Mooney Ovation etc. controllers size you up right away based on your phraseology and attentiveness on the radio - but this is the busiest airspace and pilots get dropped all the time if your increasing their workload with VFR services like practice approaches.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I requested a TEC a few weeks ago.  Tower asked me my type.  I said M20 papa.  Controller said “what”?  I said M20Papa… Piston.  Nothing else was said.  

  • Like 1
Posted
14 hours ago, N201MKTurbo said:

I just say Mooney. If they enquire more I say M20T.

This is what I do.  Most times Mooney is enough

  • Like 2
Posted

That's ATC. But when calling an FBO to find out the pricing, after explaining Mooney 3 times in futility, I tell them for pricing just figure it's like a Cessna. In the air it's fast. For ramp fees, it's a Cessna :lol:

  • Haha 4
Posted
3 hours ago, 201er said:

But when calling an FBO to find out the pricing, after explaining Mooney 3 times in futility,

Just say "single engine" and it will register with them.

 

Posted
4 hours ago, 201er said:

That's ATC. But when calling an FBO to find out the pricing, after explaining Mooney 3 times in futility, I tell them for pricing just figure it's like a Cessna. In the air it's fast. For ramp fees, it's a Cessna :lol:

This makes sense, but doesn't it hurt you a little bit when you have to say it out loud? :D

  • Like 1
  • Haha 2
Posted
2 hours ago, PeteMc said:

Just say "single engine" and it will register with them.

 

I usually start right off the bat with “single engine Mooney”. Believe me, there’s been some FBOs where this conversation goes on way longer than it needs to and until I stoop to calling it a Cessna it doesn’t register or they want to charge me jet prices.

 

Posted
7 hours ago, 201er said:

That's ATC. But when calling an FBO to find out the pricing, after explaining Mooney 3 times in futility, I tell them for pricing just figure it's like a Cessna. In the air it's fast. For ramp fees, it's a Cessna :lol:

Reminds me of the scene from "The Three Amigos" where Martin Short's (naïve) character is in a tough Mexican bar. He asks if they have beer, "no, we have tequila". "Is that like beer?". Pause, fairly unemotional delivery: "Sure.... it's like beer."

 

Posted

When in a pattern, or entering one etc.

I say Blue and White Mooney, then they know what to look for, tail number tells them nothing, they could look up, see a 172 and think I have the traffic, but don’t of course.

Central Fl is full of students and it’s best to be obvious with them

99% of the time I fly into uncontrolled fields too though. Tower I give type and tail number.

IFR of course it’s Mike 20 Juliet, color would be silly. 

Posted
1 hour ago, A64Pilot said:

IFR of course it’s Mike 20 Juliet, color would be silly. 

When talking to ATC it should be a M20P or M20T.  P for piston, T for turbo., :D

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.