Bob Gardner wrote:

I agree with everything except "ask why he asked why." Frequency time and
controller attention time is too valuable to be taken up with dialogue.

That all depends. I've flown on many a trip, even here in the
northeast, where it got quiet for so long that I called the controller
to be sure that my radio was still working. Sure, I wouldn't ask if
communications were hot and heavy, but that isn't the case all the time
unless you are talking to an approach or tower controller at a busy
filed. Centers are often pretty quiet, especially on a Sunday when it
is IMC across 6 states.


Matt