audio of VFR pilot in IFR condictions

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)

John Galban wrote:


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.

You're fortunate. The controller in the recording I heard at that seminar
did think she understood...and was mistaken.

No, that's not quite correct. It was obvious from her conversation with the
next controller that she knew she did not. But she didn't care enough to
get a clarification...or she didn't think the clarification would change
anything.

What can we expect from ATC in the case of a gyro or vacuum failure? Will
they know to avoid altitude changes and turns concurrently, for example, or
do we need to apply "unable"?

Obviously, the latter is always available to us. But I'm curious as to
whether ATC is trained in matters such as this. They are taught, for
example, about no-gyro turns, so there's *something* on this topic in their
training. How extensive?

- Andrew