See also Radio Communications Handout

Objective: To acquaint the student with proper radio procedures and common phraseology, and to introduce lost-communications procedures

Content: Radio frequencies; procedure and phraseology; receipt, acknowledgement of, and compliance with ATC clearances and instructions; ATC light signals

Equipment:
Airworthy aircraft. PTS. Radio communications handout. Handheld radio

Schedule:
Ground lesson: 30 minutes
Instructor demonstration: throughout first flights
Student practice: as ready during subsequent flights
Postflight feedback: as needed

Instructor:
Preflight: (see lesson plan) motivate, explain, have student practice communications through role-plays, list common errors, discuss.
In flight: Coach and encourage student to try radio communications, prompting as necessary.
Postflight: Give feedback and suggestions.

Student:
Preflight: Attend to explanation, do communications role-plays, answer questions
In flight: Perform radio communications as able
Postflight: Ask questions.

Completion Standards:
Can, without prompting, get on to correct frequencies and conduct all proper radio communications. Understands, acknowledges and complies with ATC clearances and instructions. Knows lost-communications procedures.

Review: Airport markings
Objective: Radio frequencies; procedure and phraseology; receipt, acknowledgement of, and compliance with ATC clearances and instructions; ATC light signals
Materials: Handout, handheld radio

INTRODUCTION: Attention/motivation: (1 minute)
We've had you flying the plane so far, and we've had you doing much of the initial contacts on the radio when we've had time to practice them. Other than that, I've taken care of most of the radio work. Are you sometimes confused by what you hear and what I say? That's normal, only because you may not know the patterns that we're all using. Today, we'll introduce you to those patterns, and I'll give you a handout that should make it much more clear.

DEVELOPMENT: Overview and explanation: (10 minutes)
1. What people you'll talk to: (ATIS), clearance, ground, tower, departure, CTAF, approach, fuel
2. Where to find the frequencies: on the sectional, in the A/FD. Emergency frequency is 121.5
3. The list of five (four, really) items: YOU ME WHERE WHAT [WITH]
4. Using the handout, go over the items and which ones are used with which frequencies.
5. Uncontrolled airport radio procedures, Class D, C, B requirements
6. Lost communications procedures and ATC light signals
7. (If student would like: use handheld and listen to some tower talk, as we go over what we're hearing)

Armchair piloting: (10 minutes)
Student and instructor do role-plays, with the student as pilot and instructor as ATC:
Placement scenarios:

1. On the ground, before talking to anyone
2. While taxiing. ("Katana 505EC hold short of Echo for the Hawker passing from right to left")
3. After the runup
4. At the hold-short line
5. On the runway
6. Just after departure (ATC gives traffic advisories, asking for early freq change, etc.)
7. Leaving Class D airspace
8. In the practice area
9. Coming into Fitchburg
10. Over Devens coming back to Hanscom
11. Entering downwind
12. Approach to landing
13. On runway
14. After the after-landing checklist
15. On the West Ramp

Common errors: (2 minutes)
Wrong frequency
Crossed radios (listening to one, broadcasting on another)
Improper phraseology or procedure
Not acknowledging ATC clearances or instructions
Not complying with ATC clearances or instructions
Misunderstanding of light signals

Oral evaluation/quiz and discussion questions: (3 minutes)
Q: What is the procedure if your radio stops working, or you have a total electrical failure?
Q. When going in to an uncontrolled airport, at what points should you communicate and what would you say?
Q. What are the communications requirements for Class D? For Class C? For Class B?