How to tell planes apart in the pattern

[201er]

"No joy" is so much easier to say than "negative contact" when looking for traffic. "Tallyho" should be reserved for Spitfire pilots diving out of the sun on Nazi aircraft . . .

 

Around the pattern, keep a close eye peeled and always add "number 2" or "number 3" to position reports when needed. I also tell landing traffic ahead of me "no rush" so they don't get paranoid about having someone breathing down their neck. It's not hard to extend downwind a little bit, and the extra minute at low power costs pretty much nothing . . . .

I agree with "no joy" cause it's so much easier to say. Meanwhile "traffic in sight, will maintain visual separation" makes more sense for the latter.

I do announce #2, etc to help others know I know I'm behind them. But that doesn't mean I'd say "no rush." I already know they're taking their time and being in a Mooney, it's tough to stay slow enough to remain behind them!

[NotarPilot]

I can live with "no joy" however I try to stick with proper terminology and haven't found "no joy" in the AIM yet.  But then again, I could be wrong.  

[Jerry 5TJ]

 

"Any traffic in the pattern, please report".

 

"except for gliders and planes without radios and you guys on the wrong frequency, you don't have to report"

[Bennett]

Yesterday, a twin reported a 5 mile straight in. The TIS-B traffic in my Mooney showed him 10+ miles out. This a towered field, and following tower's instructions, I had reported downwind. Tower instructed me to extend my downwind, and that he would call my base. The twin was not only further out than he reported, and we all know how fast Mooneys are. When tower finally turned me to base I was almost 7 miles from the airport. My point being, with all this GPS stuff there is no reason to report incorrect distances ( and directions) from an airport. I don't believe the tower.controller had independent radar, and so I guess he took the twins report as accurate. Seven mile finals with good size hills close to the flight path are ridiculous.

[DaV8or]

I love the old timer guys that don't use the radio too often when they come to town. Something like this-

 

"Um, NorCal Approach, this is Piper 345XT. Uh, I'm just flyin' around up here just a little ways from the San Rafael bridge and I was wondering if you could get me a clearance to land over at Oakland if it isn't too much trouble. Any ol' way you want to point me would be fine by me."

 

"Piper 345XT, squawk 1375 and ident.

 

"OK, I got one three and seven five in the ol' squawk box and pushing the ident. Thanks for yer help on this one. Five Xray Tango over."

 

"Piper 5XT, radar contact, five miles west of point San Pablo, cross the Mormon Temple at 2500. Make right traffic for 27 left."

 

"Uh, Norcal, this is Piper five xray tango... I'm not from around here... can you point me to this temple, or should I look it up on the secshunal?"

 

"Piper 5XT, fly heading 110 and maintain VFR clear of the Bravo."

 

"OK, much obliged on the help. Got 'er 110 on the compass and I'll get 'er down to twenty five hunnert right now. Thanks again, five xray tango over."

 

Anyhow, you get the idea. I actually find this kind of stuff amusing. The radio is still free. I want people to use it. I don't want people to fear, or avoid using it because they might say something wrong. I much, much prefer somebody saying "Any traffic in the pattern, please advise" than say nothing at all.

 

Please, everybody use your radios at uncontrolled fields, even if you are crappy at it.

[rbridges]

"Taking the active" is the worst. Avoiding this one phrase alone could cut uncontrolled airport chatter in half.

 

d'oh.  that's exactly what I say when I'm ready to enter the runway for takeoff.  That's the phrasing my instructor taught me.  What do you guys say when taking off from an uncontrolled airport?

[DaV8or]

d'oh.  that's exactly what I say when I'm ready to enter the runway for takeoff.  That's the phrasing my instructor taught me.  What do you guys say when taking off from an uncontrolled airport?

 

I say "Mooney 89M taking 30..." then whatever departure I might be using, like straight out, crosswind, or downwind. Same thing on landing, just say- "Mooney XXX clear of 30" Although I think this last is largely unneeded. Anybody following you close in the pattern, or in the pattern at all can see you are clear. It would more important to announce if you didn't make it off the runway for some reason. That would give everybody, including those still on approach to the pattern, time to think about what they're going to do.

[Hank]

I say "Mooney 4DJ departing 18" as I cross the hold short and point south, with the airport name first and last. When I land, it's just "Airport Name, Mooney clear of the active". At home, I call back-taxi on either 26 or 8 from the single intersection, turn around and call "Departing Runway #".

[DaV8or]

I say "Mooney 4DJ departing 18" as I cross the hold short and point south, with the airport name first and last. When I land, it's just "Airport Name, Mooney clear of the active". At home, I call back-taxi on either 26 or 8 from the single intersection, turn around and call "Departing Runway #".

 

Oh yeah, I forgot to add to my post above that I always start with the name of the airport traffic.

[Jamie]

I say "Mooney 4DJ departing 18" as I cross the hold short and point south

 Same here, only I give it a few seconds before actually crossing the hold short line. I figure if I missed someone on final AND they're paying attention, they'll say something.

[NotarPilot]

DaV8tor, your post made me laugh. Apparently that same guy likes to fly down here in SoCal a lot. He usually flies on the weekend.