swamppilot
Pre-Flight
I fly a patrol aircraft and when I get bored I listen to UNICOM even if I'm not close to an airport. Lately I've heard a lot of the turboprop and jet jocks call nontowered airports and advise the folks there that they'll be landing in about 15 minutes (translated to 60 t0 80 miles from touchdown). I can understand if they want a quick turn; they want to alert the folks to be ready and they want to get out fast. Even though you could argue that, that is not what UNICOM is for, I don't have a problem with it. The big iron jock though, who just announces that they'll be landing in about 15 minutes and won't need any service, while blocking the frequency for maybe a 200 mile radius, is a jerk. What is contained in such a transmission that could not wait until the aircraft was on the ground? Would they not be there in 15 minutes if the call wasn't made? Does it make them feel important? What exactly is the purpose of such a transmission?