On Thu, 20 Oct 2005 04:17:16 GMT, "Jay Honeck"
wrote:

After all the talk about not using "leading zeros" when making radio calls
referring to runways, I tried my darndest to omit those offending zeros
today.

To my surprise and dismay, my mouth has apparently developed an "autopilot"
mode that seemed to prohibit even the simplest changes to my rote radio
procedures. It literally took me FOUR TRIES to be able to refer to our
Runway 7 as "Runway SEVEN" -- not "Runway ZERO SEVEN."

Dang, you wouldn't think such a minor thing would be so hard to change, but
after saying it one way 5.6 zillion-billion times, I just couldn't seem to
get the words out straight!

:-)

I know about verbal autopilot.

I flew for about a week in Mexico, and some controllers were saying
"Roger Roger" instead of "Roger" and we started playing with them.

What I found was the controllers in this area (Campecehe,
Villahermosa, Veracruz) would say either one or two "Rogers" all the
time. So we started doubling up on our "Rogers"

Then we started seeing how far it would go. We started saying Triple
Rogers to everything we could answer affirmatively.

"6030L confirm 20 DME from Campeche"

"Ah, 6030L, Roger Roger Roger"

And the controllers started replying with triple rogers! All was well
and good until we finally came back to the U.S., and after clearing
customs in Brownsville, we were making our way up the cost and Corpus
Christi calls with "30L, verify straight and level at 3000 feet."

Yep, without even thinking I keyed the mike and replied "30L Roger
Roger Roger"

There was a long silence, and just as it was sinking in what I had
done, the controller said "30L....say again?"

It was at least two weeks before I could get rid of the Rogers in my
head while dealing with ATC.


Bill Strahan
------------
Find a new reason to fly
www.adventurepilot.com

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