Paul wrote:
Hi

I am training for my PPL in the UK at Liverpool John Lennon Airport, I have
passed the 55 hour mark which includes my Qualifying X-Country. Not long to
go now.... anyway, back to the subject of my posting.
At Liverpool, we do our power checks on the GA Apron and not at the holding
point, after the power checks we check the ATIS then request taxi.

I have been taught by my instructor(s) to make the call something like this:

G-ABCD: Liverpool Tower, this is G-ABCD at Kilo with information Alpha QNH
1234, QFE 1234 request Taxi

To which the tower will reply confirming the AN/QFE and give taxi
instructions.

However,
When re-entering the Liverpool zone (or any other FIR), the first call is
usually (Station, callsign)
i.e.
G-ABCD: Liverpool Approach, this is G-ABCD
Approach: G-ABCD, Pass your message
etc. etc. etc.

I was told this was to just 'Introduce Yourself' first to ensure the
controller is ready to accept your message,

My question is:

Why not do the same when on the Apron?
i.e.
G-ABCD: Liverpool Tower, this is G-ABCD
Tower: G-ABCD, Pass your message
G-ABCD: G-ABCD is at Kilo with information Alpha AN 1234, QFE 1234 request
Taxi

Surely it would be better to 'just introduce' yourself to the Tower before
babbling for 10 seconds only to be told by the Tower to 'Stand By' as he is
about to vector a 737 in for an approach.

I hate it (especially earlier in my training) when I would make a rushed
tongue tied call to the Tower only to be either told to Stand By or realise
I was talking over someone else.

Any comments or advice?

My first advice is - do what your instructor tells you :-)

Seriously, aside from giving you the necessary skills, the instructor is
also teaching you how to pass the forthcoming tests, so if that's how
it's done, that's how it's done.

But you're right - it does seem inconsistent. I've always assumed that
the first, brief call to a tower on approaching their airspace was to
wake up the controller and give him time to find a pencil. I've lost
count of the number of times this has happened:

Me: Sleepy Tower, F-GACD.
[slight pause]
Tower: Ugh ... aircraft calling Sleepy Tower, say again callsign.

Of course, I fly in France and most of the towers around here aren't
that busy!