United Triple nickel

[JusticeAK]

I was listening to NorCal approach tonight and I hear a guy using the call sign United triple nickel. Controllers are calling for United 555, He's responding triple nickel. professional?

[Towerboss]

Professional on the controllers part? Absolutely! On the pilots part? Not so... but could be his last flight.

[Nick]

On a similar note, I heard this once on New York approach:


NY TRACON: Continental 1455 contact New York approach 128.55

CAL1455: Deuce, eight-ball, double-nickel -- SEE YA.

[WestIndian425]

Originally Posted by Nick

On a similar note, I heard this once on New York approach:


NY TRACON: Continental 1455 contact New York approach 128.55

CAL1455: Deuce, eight-ball, double-nickel -- SEE YA.

ROFL!!!

There are so many non-standard calls out there, many of which are hiliarious, but as long as it's understood what was meant, I guess no harm no foul.

[schoolio]

Umm, no. This attitude is what is contributing to the downfall of our profession.

We are professionals. We should always look, act, and sound like professionals, especially if we expect to be treated as such.

[pilotnate23]

Not funny at all...outright annoying in my opinion.

- Nate

[CirrusMonkey]

Really? Come on guy, saying tripple nickel is bringing down our profession?

[Fox Xray]

Over the years I have heard quite a bit of that... for the most part is does not bother me. You hear a lot of leaving twenty-one and half or got em' on the fish finder. As controllers we are regularly evaluated on our phraseology and can get in quite a bit of trouble for not using prescribed phraseology. When the altimeter is 29.99 ATC says Two Niner Niner Niner... 99 out of 100 read backs are Two Triple Nine (er).

Triple nickel is a bit much, that might have annoyed me a bit. It's all fun and games until someone gets hurt...

[Doug Taylor]

A little off topic but "got 'em on the fish finder" is about the dumbest thing on earth.

What's the pilot saying, he's going to provide his own separation using the TCAS display? Traffic in sight? Traffic NOT in sight?

[GalaxyIFE]

I agree...the hair stands up on the back of my neck when I hear some idiot say something along those lines. Thanks for giving information that is of no use to anyone...

[Baronman]

Interestingly enough, many times I find it's the newer guys that fall into the traps of bad radio phraseology.

It's not that they don't know what the "correct" things to say are. It's that they think by employing a high level of casualness, it signifies that they're at home and in a way covering up their lack of experience. Hey...if the guy flying the 777 sounds relaxed and cool being non-standard, I must too!

Just my $.02

[CirrusMonkey]

WOW! It is amazing what people can read from a guy saying "tripple nickel".....

[schoolio]

Originally Posted by CirrusMonkey

Really? Come on guy, saying tripple nickel is bringing down our profession?

Yeah, that's exactly what I'm saying.

[rant]
As I already stated, if you want to be treated like a professional, you need to look, act, and sound like a professional. It's all about the little things, the attention to detail, and that includes proper, standard phraseology. It's about making sure that when you step out of the flight deck you've cinched your tie back up and buttoned that top button. It's about wearing the hat when/if you're supposed to wear the hat. It's about not walking through the terminal with your backpack, frosted tips, and iPod. I could go on and on...

Even before I entered this profession, as a detail-oriented person and a professional myself, I could spot the slackers from a mile away. The public sees it. Maybe the lack of attention to detail has helped contribute to the idea that flying is a right, not a privilege, when in fact it should (and used to) be the other way around.

As an airline pilot, it should piss you off to see someone else not contributing to the profession. The entitlement and "not my problem" mentalities have got to go.

[/rant]

[mikecweb]

I can't tell you how many times I hear "USair's " going into Charlotte. That bugs the crap out of me.
"Checking in on board with you" is my favorite.

[CirrusMonkey]

Originally Posted by schoolio

Yeah, that's exactly what I'm saying.

[rant]
As I already stated, if you want to be treated like a professional, you need to look, act, and sound like a professional. It's all about the little things, the attention to detail, and that includes proper, standard phraseology. It's about making sure that when you step out of the flight deck you've cinched your tie back up and buttoned that top button. It's about wearing the hat when/if you're supposed to wear the hat. It's about not walking through the terminal with your backpack, frosted tips, and iPod. I could go on and on...

Even before I entered this profession, as a detail-oriented person and a professional myself, I could spot the slackers from a mile away. The public sees it. Maybe the lack of attention to detail has helped contribute to the idea that flying is a right, not a privilege, when in fact it should (and used to) be the other way around.

As an airline pilot, it should piss you off to see someone else not contributing to the profession. The entitlement and "not my problem" mentalities have got to go.

[/rant]

I disagree, to an extent, respectfully. Accepting a job which includes flying a mainline sized aircraft for regional wages, or any aircraft for poverty wages, reporting for duty, intoxicated and not getting involved in your union (I could go on as well) are bringing down this profession.

Just my two cents.....err.....opinion.

[Doug Taylor]

Folks, chill. Remember, this is the ATC forum, not the 'my wanker is bigger'n yours'.

[schoolio]

Originally Posted by CirrusMonkey

I disagree, to an extent, respectfully. Accepting a job which includes flying a mainline sized aircraft for regional wages, or any aircraft for poverty wages, reporting for duty, intoxicated and not getting involved in your union (I could go on as well) are bringing down this profession.

Just my two cents.....err.....opinion.

I don't disagree with your statements there. I just think that we can always do better, and as professionals, should do better.

[/threadjack]

Back to your regularly scheduled ATC thread.

[CirrusMonkey]

Copy that!

[flyhigh]

Does an airline passenger listen to the communications and decide to drive instead of fly because the business isn't "professional"? I don't know of one.

Just my opinion- if everything is understood by the pilot and controller then everything is ok.

[Doug Taylor]

I presume you have a special issuance medical because you clearly didn't hear me, buddy!

[SteveC]

Originally Posted by flyhigh

Just my opinion- if everything is understood by the pilot and controller then everything is ok.

That is the exact purpose of standard phraseology - eliminate any potential confusion or misunderstanding. Non-standard phraseology, no matter how cute, has the potential to screw up the message being sent and/or received.

Resist the urge.

[Doug Taylor]

Additionally, non-standard phraseology CAN kill you.

Ask any Avianca pilot.

[flyhigh]

Originally Posted by SteveC

That is the exact purpose of standard phraseology - eliminate any potential confusion or misunderstanding. Non-standard phraseology, no matter how cute, has the potential to screw up the message being sent and/or received.

Resist the urge.

Tru dat. Now I don't know why I thought what I did earlier. It isn't like I never use standard phraseology but from now on, I will really concentrate on what I say on the radio.

Thanks for that

[Fox Xray]

Originally Posted by Doug Taylor

A little off topic but "got 'em on the fish finder" is about the dumbest thing on earth.

What's the pilot saying, he's going to provide his own separation using the TCAS display? Traffic in sight? Traffic NOT in sight?

I don't know when that started but you hear it more often then you think. It sounds really bad and does not help me. I have no clue what got em' on the fish finder means and when I'm busy I feel like the pilot is wasting my time. Say no joy... IMC... now you're working with me.

I have sat in on active investigations where a room full of people ranging from NTSB and FAA to ALPA sat and listened to ATC tapes and when a pilot says something like that the whole room gasps at once. From where I sit it sounds really bad... in a room like that it sounds worse. What if the Triple Nickel flight had something serious happen and copies of the ATC tapes were played on every news channel ??? Regardless of whether the pilot did something wrong or right the "sloppy" radio phraseology would be the item that many would focus on in making a determination about the pilots skills.

On my side I don't like it. I have many people talking in my ear, not just A/C. I have other controllers, I have supervisors talking to me, the radar associate, etc. On my screen I see a data tag that says UAL555, I'm listening for United Five Five Five or **maybe** triple five. Anything else I have the potential to miss the call...

[surreal1221]

Triple nickle is stupid...

This isn't poker.

If you're UAL99 I don't expect you to be calling yourself United Gretsky.