ATC Script for Student Pilots

[Zero1Niner]

Have you guys put together a script that you give to student pilots to study for ATC? I have not put one together yet, but pretty sure Im gonna need to.

Anyone want to share their script?

[minitour]

Make it simple.

Who you're calling.
Who you are.
What you want to do.
Any additional information that may help without going overboard and describing the outfit you're wearing.

"Charlotte clearance, N12345 ready to copy IFR to Lexington"

"Podunk ground, N12345, ready to taxi from the FBO with delta"

"Cleveland tower, N12345, 15 mile final for 24."

"Jax center, N12345, 6,000"

-mini

[shdw]

Or make them do some homework, the book "Say Again Please..." is a wonderful, easy to read book on this topic. Maybe 200 pages long but lots of pictures and big writing. :-D It took me two days to finish this one up, simple read with great information. They can develop their own sheet as well as learn things they likely will not pick up through typical teaching. It is however a 20 dollar investment, but well worth it for any student willing to do a little reading.

[Nihon_Ni]

I have a script I've developed that started out as airspeed/alt/RPMflap info for the landing pattern. It's a crutch though, and I don't let them use it in the airplane.

Instead, I teach the 4 basic componets of a radio call:
1. Who you're talking to
2. Who you are
3. Where you are
4. What you want
If all else fails, speak English.

I've found this is a better approach than having them use a script in the plane as a primer.

[African_Swallow]

Originally Posted by Nihon_Ni

I have a script I've developed that started out as airspeed/alt/RPMflap info for the landing pattern. It's a crutch though, and I don't let them use it in the airplane.

Instead, I teach the 4 basic componets of a radio call:
1. Who you're talking to
2. Who you are
3. Where you are
4. What you want
If all else fails, speak English.

I've found this is a better approach than having them use a script in the plane as a primer.

Who
Where
What

Best way to learn radios: Listen, listen, listen (back-seat other lessons, liveatc.net, etc.); read the bold face in the P/C Glossary; read AIM Ch. 4-2. For folks having an especially difficult time, I will occasionally type out typical scripts for our airport.

-A.S.

[AirmetTango]

Originally Posted by Nihon_Ni

I have a script I've developed that started out as airspeed/alt/RPMflap info for the landing pattern. It's a crutch though, and I don't let them use it in the airplane.

Instead, I teach the 4 basic componets of a radio call:
1. Who you're talking to
2. Who you are
3. Where you are
4. What you want
If all else fails, speak English.

I've found this is a better approach than having them use a script in the plane as a primer.

I used to instruct at a Class D airport, and a six page script circulated among the instructors to teach tower communications...six pages to teach series of communication exchanges that takes a total of maybe one minute of talk time! Granted, a script that size is overkill. But in general, I found that any kind of script often led to more confusion if things didn't go exactly according to the script, especially for those students who were struggling with communications to begin with.

I had far greater success teaching with "who you are, where you are, what you want, student pilot" than using any script. Don't let your students forget that the phrase "student pilot" is magic when it comes to slowing down the controller's response, and it's not just for solo operations...it can be used even if the instructor is onboard.