What are some of the top suggestions for VFR / IFR radio training outside the airplane? Any experiences/feedback that you'd like to share from your own training?
Thanks, Clark1961, but my Twitter handle won't get pit2atx very far because I do not sell books. S/he should try Sporty's, any pilot supply store, or www.asa2fly.com. Your support is appreciated. Bob
Sorry...I was so interested in getting Clark1961 straight on my contact info that I failed to mention that the products in question are my book SAY AGAIN, PLEASE, or its CD-based equivalent RADIO COMMUNICATION TRAINER, both published by ASA and available wherever their products are sold. Bob
1) Say Again Please 2) While driving down the road read out loud license plates and street sighs in phonetical alphabet 3) While in flight, use flight following EVERY flight. There is no substitute better than just getting comfortable while actually talking on radio.
Keep flying and practice. Reading books about radio communications didn’t help me at all. I just needed repetition. YMMV.
In addition to the suggestions above (especially Bob's book), find an experienced pilot in your area who likes to mentor student pilots. Then role play some flights from start up to shut down. Have the other pilot play the roles of ATC, including Ground, Tower, Departure, Center, Adjoining Center, Approach, Tower, and Ground. Use a sectional to follow along the route of flight so the student begins to grokk what sort of radio traffic is associated with which part of the flight. If any student pilots are in the DFW area and would like to do a session or two of this, hit me up.
Excellent advice (I've been 'radioing' for departure from my garage, lately. Though shouting 'Clear Prop!' before I start the car is probably gratuitous, but I love the confused faces of my passengers.) And "Say Again, Please" is a fantastic reference.
(4) Repeat what your car's GPS says out loud word-for-word, preceded or followed by your tail number. Respond quickly, say it clearly, and make sure your brain absorbed the actual instruction (you can get in the habit of parroting without actually knowing what you just said! Which runway did I acknowledge I was cleared for???)
Buy a hand held aviation radio, its good to have in the plane as a backup anyways. Go to a Delta or other towered airport, preferably something a bit busy. Just sit and listen to ground while holding a airport diagram and try and identify where each call is from/to. Then switch over to the CTAF and listen to those calls. You many not hear the initial calls to the tower but you should hear all the pattern entry announcements onward to landing and being instructed to stay with the tower or switch to ground. When I was pre-flighting I would also listen to one or the other.
I just bought this new book/video combo, and it looks good: https://www.pilotworkshop.com/master-vfr-communication Like others above, I too recommend www.liveatc.net . It's become my favorite "radio station."
There is another you'll like just as much.... http://www.asa2fly.com/The-Complete-Advanced-Pilot-P1978.aspx And for those who say one engine isn't enough.... http://www.asa2fly.com/The-Complete-Multi-Engine-Pilot-P1223.aspx
Get VATSIM. It's a free add-on that turns your flight simulator into a multiplayer server(FSX, X-plane, P3D) where everything is done as it is in real life. There are controllers, other air traffic, and everything. Here you can practice talking to an ATC.
