In article ,
"Dan Luke" wrote:
No response while I look is also counterproductive, because the
controller
has no idea whether I heard the traffic call or not. Responding with
"looking" acknowledges the transmission and tells the controller than I
don't have the traffic but I'm not blowing it off.

Why would the controller presume you are "blowing it off?"

What do you propose as a response to a traffic advisory? Nothing?
Stating "negative contact" immediately?

When the controller advises of traffic, he expects you to look for it.
Under VFR he probably doesn't care if you acknowledge his advisory, or
whether you look or if you see it, but under IFR he does.

No response (or a delayed response) is not a good option because the
controller has no idea whether you heard the advisory or not.
Immediately stating "negative contact" before you have an opportunity to
look accomplishes nothing, and may very well cause the controller to
issue you a turn you don't need or waste even more radio time trying to
draw your attention to the target (been there, done that in both cases.)


After I've had a
chance to actually scan for the traffic, I will respond with either
"negative contact" or "traffic in sight."

Then "looking" was an extra, unnecessary transmission.

Where did I lose you? "Looking" was used to acknowledge the advisory
and inform the controller that I am looking for the traffic.



JKG