Andrew Gideon wrote in message gonline.com...

But the recording's "lesson" was that we as pilots need to be completely
clear with controllers. Don't assume, for example, that they're familiar
with aircraft failure modes. If you've lost instruments, say that you've
lost intruments (and which!). This may still not be completely understood,
but it should at least sound more serious than "vacuum failure" to someone
that thinks a vacuum is only a household appliance.


Excellent point. Several years ago I told a controller I was
inbound with a mag failure and the remaining mag was a little rough.
He didn't have a clue about what I was saying, and told me so. When I
told him that one of my engine's ignition systems was dead and the
backup didn't sound too healthy, he got the picture right away.
Cleared the pattern, cleared me for any runway and offered to roll the
fire trucks.

John Galban=====N4BQ (PA28-180)