LANGLEY FLYING SCHOOL Flight Training Handbook

Flight Training Handbook Page 46
Langley Flying School, Inc.
and separation. 49
Repetitive Circuits
When flying repetitive circuits, the pilot should advise the tower of his position each time he passes mid-field in the
downwind leg. When advising the tower of his position, he should also provide his landing intentions. For
example:
Pilot:
Controller:
“ABC Downwind Left, Runway one nine, touch-and-go.”
“ABC Cleared touch-and-go, Runway one nine.”
Pilot:
Controller:
“ABC Downwind Left, Runway one nine, full stop.”
“ABC Number 3 behind a Cherokee on short final, and a Cessna on left base.”
In the latter instance, again a landing clearance would be expected when you reach your final approach.
Airports with Two Tower Controllers
At some airports there may be two tower frequencies, an “outer” frequency, and an “inner frequency”—e.g.,
Victoria Airport and Abbotsford Airport. Inbound for landing, you first contact the outer frequency controller, and
he will subsequently advise you when to switch to the inner controller. It is always a good idea to have your radios
adjusted so that you switch frequencies with the flick of a switch. The communication will go something like this:
Outer Tower
Controller:
Pilot:
“ABC, Cleared Left Base Runway zero seven. Contact tower now on one eight
decimal two.”
“ABC, Roger.”
After you switch, check in with the controller.
Pilot:
Inner Tower
Controller:
Pilot:
“Tower, ABC with you on a Left Base zero seven.
“ABC Roger, Number 2 behind a Cessna on short final.”
“ABC.”
If you are asked to change frequency and have not been provided a circuit clearance, then report your current
altitude: 50
Pilot:
Inner Tower
Controller:
Pilot:
“Tower, ABC with you, level two thousand.”
“ABC Roger, Cleared Left Base, zero seven.”
“Left Base zero seven, ABC.”
You don’t have to sound like an Air Canada pilot just yet, but the Examiner will expect you to handle radio
transmissions and receptions effectively during your flight test. At first it will sound absolutely confusing, but very
quickly you will be able to decipher patterns and then radio work will make sense to you. Radio work at
uncontrolled airports is somewhat different and this is reviewed on P. Error! Bookmark not defined..
49 This is perhaps one of the most dangerous scenarios—all the players think you have a target in sight when in fact you don’t. Don’t hesitate to
say you have lost your target. As well, it is not uncommon for a pilot to lose contact with a target that has been assigned by a controller and
reported in sight by the pilot. In such a case the pilot must immediately advise the controller that visual contact has been lost—“Tower, Alpha
Bravo Charlie has lost the target.” “ Alpha Bravo Charlie, Tower, aircraft (target) no longer a factor, turn base at your discretion.”
50 The outer and inner controllers are sitting next to each other in the tower cab (control tower) and are continuously exchanging information—
really quite interesting how they work.
2012 David L. Parry