When to acknowledge ATC

"Peter R." wrote in message
...
Newps wrote:

In the past, I've acknowledged such things if the controller was not
busy. But I've heard all kinds. Some people read back the altimeter
setting.

Worst of the bunch.

Tough cookies. You're getting it read back because that's my memory
aid.

It's better than just a memory aid (though that's useful too). A readback
of information like that is critical to air safety. No big deal if you get
the last digit wrong, but if you mess up something to the left of the
decimal, that's serious business. Best to check and make sure you heard it
right the first time.

A controller that thinks it's dumb to read back the altimeter setting is
probably not even listening to the readback. Obviously in that situation,
the readback is useless. But other controllers aren't so inconsiderate.

Of course, as the FAA has recently decided, if ATC fails to correct an
incorrect readback, the pilot is still to blame for whatever happens
subsequently. It's no wonder at least one controller has such a blasé
attitude about the issue. He's safe, dumb, and happy sitting in his chair,
while the pilot takes all the risk.

Pete