JasonM
Pattern Altitude
I may be flying to an airport tomorrow with one of these RCO things.. How do I use it? What should I expect? Any tips?
Time for some dual, buddy.
What kind of RCO? Is it one where you talk directly to the facility over a VHF frequency, or one where you have to click a certain number of times to activate a landline phone that provides a half-duplex channel to FSS? Those (the latter) are technically called GCOs and they're as rare as teats on a bull these days; I haven't used one in almost 7 years and couldn't describe anymore how to do it in detail.I may be flying to an airport tomorrow with one of these RCO things.. How do I use it? What should I expect? Any tips?
Good info;What kind of RCO? Is it one where you talk directly to the facility over a VHF frequency, or one where you have to click a certain number of times to activate a landline phone that provides a half-duplex channel to FSS? Those (the latter) are technically called GCOs and they're as rare as teats on a bull these days; I haven't used one in almost 7 years and couldn't describe anymore how to do it in detail.
The former are just like talking over any frequency, the only catch is that some are to ATC and some to FSS, but you'll always know which is which since the A/FD tells you what kind of facility it is, and if you're not sure the frequency is usually a dead giveaway.
So which kind is this? What field are you flying to? The location might help someone give you a better answer, since if it's a GCO the particulars (# of clicks to activate, etc.) vary between installations, IIRC.
Don't worry about it. I'm sure we can find subjects on which you can return the complementHow so? I have never been to an airport with one. Never used one..
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Are you saying it takes an instructor to physically demonstrate how to do it? or are you trying to imply I need more training simply since I have not used one before? This may be something available at your airport, but where I fly these are not available.
I have flown over 100 hours IFR in the past 3 months and not been to a single airport with one of these.
888-766-8267, but a direct GCO line to the controlling ATC facility is still better (if the GCO works).Don't have it with me but there is an 800 number ,you can call from any airport ,to get a clearance and release.
As Ron said, they seem to be broke more than they work. My home base has one and I don't even get a dial tone. Not for the 2 years I've tried it.RCO/GCO ~ whoops. Looks like in my case it is actually an GCO. Airport KGGE Georgetown SC.
Yes -- you've eliminated the L-M middleman and are talking directly to the controlling ATC facility.I have used the phone for clearances many times Ron, I was thinking if this works, it should be faster than the phone call right?
No clicks needed -- just key the mike and say something. If you hear it say "Line 1, disconnecting" or something like that, then you'll have to start over with a new set of 4/6 clicks to reinitiate the telephone connection.So.. if it goes silent as Ron says after 10-15 seconds, what do you say? clickity-click-click... "You still with me"?
It's a good idea, because they have no way to tell that you're calling via the GCO -- it just rings their telephone like any other incoming phone call. That said, if you can get the number that the GCO dials (the FBO probably has it), you're better off calling it yourself on your cell phone than going through the GCO, which is really just a relic of the pre-mobile phone days.Is it advisable to notify the controller I am contacting them on the GCO freq or will they already know?
Sounds like the gizmo I ran into at Estevan, Saskatchewan. Supposed to connect you with Regina FSS. Filed IFR --D-> Williston, ND & down the airway to Glasgow, Montana. Couldn't get the dumb thing to work so a few miles north of the border I just called Salt Lake Center on the radio and picked up my clearance which the issued along with an offer for a vector direct Glasgow................
When they do work, it's 4 mike clicks to connect to ATC and 6 mike clicks for FSS. The clicks are slower than you think - a bit more definite and separated than for pilot-controlled lighting.
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Nah. We have them too. But it's interesting that, other than a brief mention in the associated Pilot/Controller Glossary, there is no discussion of it at all in the AIM. (There is a discussion of GCOs in the Instrument Procedures Handbook)Sounds like the gizmo I ran into at Estevan, Saskatchewan. Supposed to connect you with Regina FSS. Filed IFR --D-> Williston, ND & down the airway to Glasgow, Montana. Couldn't get the dumb thing to work so a few miles north of the border I just called Salt Lake Center on the radio and picked up my clearance which the issued along with an offer for a vector direct Glasgow.
Only time I've ever dealt with a GCO, I thought it must be a Canadian "thing"?