Radar Contact

By Jeff Kanarish

Education Games & Hobbies Sports & Recreation Training Amateur Aviation

What's Radar Contact about?

How to communicate effectively and confidently with air traffic control. For pilots of all experiences levels, flying VFR or IFR.

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Radar Contact episodes:

01.04.2017
Using ATC to Check the Status of a MOA
Is it safe to fly VFR through a MOA? It depends.
09.30.2016
Taxi Clearance Anxiety
If you have ever felt butterflies in your stomach when faced with contacting Ground Control for taxi clearance, you have experienced something I call Taxi Clearance Anxiety. It’s a made-up term but the phenomenon has real consequences. Some pilots go...
08.30.2016
Contacting Flight Service; Searching for IFR Traffic in an Uncontrolled Pattern
If you can get all the aviation weather data you need online, do you really need to know how to contact Flight Service on the radio? It depends on who you ask. I say yes. A Flight Service agent can...
06.21.2016
Making Mistakes on the Aircraft Radio
In this episode, we’ll talk about why you make mistakes on the radio and what it says about your performance as a pilot. I think my analysis will surprise you (in a good way). Also, some pilots have asked interesting...
04.24.2016
Aircraft Color in Place of Call Sign is a Bad Idea
“Town and Country Traffic, red and white Skyhawk, 4-mile final, Runway One Seven, Town and Country.” “Town and Country Traffic, blue and white Warrior, turning base, Runway One Seven, Town and Country.” “Town and Country Traffic, red and white Skyhawk,...
04.10.2016
Common Traffic Advisory Frequencies and ATC as Customer Service
This edition of the Radar Contact Show consolidates the previous 3 articles about using a Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF) and about ATC as customer service organization. If you would rather read about CTAF, you can find the full articles...
02.28.2016
What ATC’s ‘Make Closed Traffic’ Clearance Means
“Cessna 9130 Delta, Pensasoda Tower, make right closed traffic. Runway 11, cleared for takeoff.” What has ATC just authorized you to do? More importantly, what has ATC not authorized you to do? The answers are not as straight-forward as you...
01.18.2016
We’d Be Thrilled If You Simply Used Your Call Sign!
I’ve spent a lot of time at this website talking to you about how to format your call sign when transmitting on the radio. While focusing on tiny details, I failed to recognize the bigger problem. Many pilots do not...
12.23.2015
Air Traffic Control Tips, Goodies, and Presents
Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, or if you prefer, Seasonally Adjusted Greetings. I come bearing gifts of good cheer, ATC tips, techniques, and other goodies. Normally, I’d tell you what’s in store for this edition of Radar Contact. Instead, slip off...
11.25.2015
Aviation Headsets < $400: What We Know So Far
The results of the survey about aviation headsets costing less than $400 are in. The survey asked, is there an economical headset that feels good on the head, provides good audio quality, and holds up over time? The answer in...
11.10.2015
When to Make Position Reports in an Uncontrolled Airport Traffic Pattern
Radar Contact is back! In the first show after a months-long break, we’ll talk about when to make position reports in an uncontrolled pattern. You may think you already know the answer, but if you look at the confusing mess...
06.24.2015
NextGen Air Traffic Control and You
In this month’s edition of the Radar Contact Show we are going to look at how the FAA’s NextGen version of air traffic control will affect you. We’ll also look at what it means to be off your assigned altitude and what...
05.02.2015
Caution Wake Turbulence for the Departing Boeing 757
“Cessna 9130D, caution wake turbulence for the departing Boeing 757, Runway 25, cleared for takeoff.” Gulp! Never fear, ATC is here to protect you against the hazards of wake turbulence. No kidding. ATC uses very specific rules to help you...
03.12.2015
Shaky Emergencies and Cranky Air Traffic Controllers
Hey Air Traffic Control, I think I might have a big problem but I’m not declaring an emergency. Standby for further information. In today’s show we are going to discuss aircraft problems that fall into gray areas. We’ll discuss how...
02.03.2015
Aircraft Position Reports
Reporting your position on the radio, while in an uncontrolled airport pattern, is a little bit like playing a game of Marco Polo. Other pilots in the pattern rely on your timely and accurate reports to help maintain awareness of...
12.14.2014
How to Work with ATC Around Class B and Other Closed Airspace
If you are a pilot who hates to work with ATC because you feel doing so would restrict your flying freedom, I’ve got surprising news for you. Working with ATC can actually lighten your load and help you enjoy your flight. This...
11.27.2014
Consequences of Declaring an Emergency with ATC
My airplane has a problem. A big problem. I think I can handle it. No, I’m sure I can handle it. Maybe I can handle it. Can I handle it? I’m not sure.I had better declare an emergency with ATC and...
09.22.2014
Use ATC to Save Your Life
Daher-Socata TBM-850. Source: fr.wikipedia.orgEarlier this month, a single-engine turboprop aircraft crashed into the ocean near Jamaica. Early indications are the airplane’s cabin pressurization system failed and the pilot lost consciousness due to hypoxia. The plane continued flying on autopilot until...
06.01.2014
When to Not Respond to ATC (Really!)
See no ATC. Hear No ATC. Speak no ATC. As pilots we are trained to respond to ATC each and every time ATC talks to us. Did you know there are times when you should not talk to ATC? It’s...
04.08.2014
Timing is Everything in ATC Communication
Two people speaking to each other at the same time does not communication make. It’s true in a face-to-face encounter and it’s true when trying to communicate with ATC. When 2 pilots try to transmit at the same time, the...
03.15.2014
Control Tower Options
“Dice right, ice cream, alert, 654 Jose. . . Brown Richmond 96 double . . . hut hut!” What?! I’ll give you a hint: Football and air traffic control. Here’s another hint: trying to understand Tower’s instructions does not have...
02.20.2014
What Was That Tower Controller Thinking?
My article, “Walk the Talk” is in the March issue of Flight Training magazine. Pilot (calling Tower): “Cessna 9130 Delta, request left closed traffic.” Tower: “Cessna 9130 Delta, make right closed traffic. Report a midfield right downwind.” Pilot: “Cessna 9130...
01.15.2014
How to Land at the Wrong Airport with ATC Help
Proximity of Clark Downtown (Taney County) Airport to Branson Airport, Missouri. Last week a listener wrote to tell me about an incident in which a general aviation aircraft landed at the wrong airport. He said this reminded him of other...
01.06.2014
Voice Activated Flying
Cessna 9130, move rook to King 1. I’m afraid I can’t do that Dave. Air traffic control is voice-activated flying. Don’t believe me? Consider this. You’re about to enter a tower-controlled airport pattern. Tower says, “Cessna 9130 Delta enter a...
11.20.2013
Sterile Cockpit Means Quiet!
“Shhh! I’m trying to use the phone radio” Borrowed from “Pee Wee Herman’s Big Adventure.” In this week’s show, we are going to talk about something called sterile cockpit and how it helps you communicate with ATC. No, Paul Reubens,...
10.09.2013
Radar Contact: Airport Traffic Pattern Position Reports
This photo has nothing to do with this article. A photo of an A-10 just increases the overall quality of the website. You are approaching an uncontrolled airport traffic pattern and you need to know where other pilots are in...
09.13.2013
Radar Contact 32: Finding Your Way to Talk to ATC
Round dial versus glass. Boeing 767-300 (top) and Boeing 767-400 (bottom). Learning to talk to air traffic control on the radios can be tough. Learning to talk to ATC on the radios while learning to fly a new airplane is...
07.30.2013
How to Switch from Approach to Tower Control
“Chestnut 372 Victor Charlie, you’re six miles north of the airport. Contact Propinquity Tower on 119.6.” That is how the switch from Approach Control to Tower Control should sound. Does it always happen that way? We’ll rip it apart in...
07.10.2013
Land and Hold Short, Kimosabi
Hi-yo Silver! In this week’s show we are going to saddle up with the Lone Ranger and break out a lasso, I mean, LAHSO. I know, we should quit horsing around and get down to business. We’ve got masked heroes...
06.23.2013
FAA to Pilots: Know the Radio Standard Phraseology
Someone pinch me, I must be dreaming. A couple of weeks ago, the FAA published two draft proposals that will change the way you and I will train for our Private Pilot Certificate and for our Instrument Rating. If the...
05.29.2013
ATC Terminology Affects Phraseology
Radar Contact #28 for 29 May 2013: Terminology Affects Phraseology Aloha! I’m back from vacation and ready to talk radio procedures with you again. This time, we are going to address some questions about radio work raised by the pilots...
04.29.2013
Radar Contact Audio Show: Basics of ATC Radio
Enroute center postage stamp box. Lately, we’ve been covering more advanced topics in radio work with ATC. In this show we are back to aircraft radio basics. Why? Recent experience tells me some pilots don’t have the fundamentals nailed down....
04.08.2013
Air Traffic Control Reaches Far Out
If you grew up in the 1970’s or 1980’s “Far out” means something to you. Far out also means something to you if you plan to work with air traffic control. In this show, I’ve got a rule-of-thumb that determines...
03.20.2013
ATC Will Not Separate VFR Aircraft in Class C
ATC won’t separate VFR aircraft flying in Class C airspace? Is that really true? Good luck, Skippy. You’re on your own. I hope you don’t hit another aircraft. . . I’ve got to be kidding you, right? I’m not kidding....
02.26.2013
VFR Traffic Advisories
Here’s a free gift from ATC! VFR traffic advisories: all of the goodness with none of the fat of regular air traffic control. Look for it, by name, at your nearest air traffic control center. In this show you and...
02.09.2013
Using an ATC Translation Dictionary
In this show, were going to talk about how and why standards are so important. We’ll throw in a couple of simulated radio conversations, and some lessons learned. I’ll talk a bit about a book review in AOPA’s Flight Training...

What's Radar Contact about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Radar Contact episodes:

Using ATC to Check the Status of a MOA

Taxi Clearance Anxiety

Contacting Flight Service; Searching for IFR Traffic in an Uncontrolled Pattern

Making Mistakes on the Aircraft Radio

Aircraft Color in Place of Call Sign is a Bad Idea

Common Traffic Advisory Frequencies and ATC as Customer Service

What ATC’s ‘Make Closed Traffic’ Clearance Means

We’d Be Thrilled If You Simply Used Your Call Sign!

Air Traffic Control Tips, Goodies, and Presents

Aviation Headsets < $400: What We Know So Far

When to Make Position Reports in an Uncontrolled Airport Traffic Pattern

NextGen Air Traffic Control and You

Caution Wake Turbulence for the Departing Boeing 757

Shaky Emergencies and Cranky Air Traffic Controllers

Aircraft Position Reports

How to Work with ATC Around Class B and Other Closed Airspace

Consequences of Declaring an Emergency with ATC

Use ATC to Save Your Life

When to Not Respond to ATC (Really!)

Timing is Everything in ATC Communication

Control Tower Options

What Was That Tower Controller Thinking?

How to Land at the Wrong Airport with ATC Help

Voice Activated Flying

Sterile Cockpit Means Quiet!

Radar Contact: Airport Traffic Pattern Position Reports

Radar Contact 32: Finding Your Way to Talk to ATC

How to Switch from Approach to Tower Control

Land and Hold Short, Kimosabi

FAA to Pilots: Know the Radio Standard Phraseology

ATC Terminology Affects Phraseology

Radar Contact Audio Show: Basics of ATC Radio

Air Traffic Control Reaches Far Out

ATC Will Not Separate VFR Aircraft in Class C

VFR Traffic Advisories

Using an ATC Translation Dictionary

Other shows like Radar Contact: