International Flying

[aviatorrbt]

For you who have flown internationally, how do things differ and how are things the same?

For instance, how does ATC in other countries work comparatively to the US. I understand that they speak English but are the operations the same?

Any insight would be grateful.

[Doug Taylor]

It's different. There is SOME standardization but every country can be quite different.

Communications
Some countries have radios that sound as if they're talking to you on a Radio Shack-assembled HAM radio. Add that to an accent and you've got hours of "Hey? What did he say?"

Some things you don't hear in the US which are very common, if not standard overseas:

"Line up and wait" (position and hold)

"Orbit" (hold)

"ICALLYOUBACK" (standby) it's one word said fast! I..I...ICALLYOUBACK

"Taxi holding point 26L" (taxi to and hold short of 26L)

Some countries are very controlling where no matter what, when you check in it's "Good morning Delta, 5 degrees left, expect course direct Isle of Man shortly". Others will clear you to descend into a hillside if you request it.



Airports
Man, we've got it GREAT in the United States because we have clear taxiway signage.

In many foreign countries, the signage is absolutely horrible and the airport design is abysmal. At most US airports the 10-9 page encompasses most of what you need to know about the airport, however at some airports in Europe, you have six different pages -- one overview, and then pages and pages of expanded taxiway depictions so you can discern intersections, taxiways, etc.

Arrivals/Departures
Consider most of Europe a big noise-sensitive zone. You do mostly RNAV arrivals and departures. Many airports have a STAR, then an approach transition and then the actual approach.

Sometimes you'll have the ERIXU1A, 1B, 3C, 3E, etc, so you really don't have an idea what you're really going to get until you get a clearance.

SPEAKING of clearances, you generally call for clearance right before pushback and not much sooner. You usually ask for "requesting clearance to JFK, pushback and engine start"

Ok, sorry, I rambled!

[B767Driver]

Very big differences in terminology, altimetry, and slot controlled flow programs are the ones that immediately come to mind. Transoceanic and North Atlantic Track rules are separate from domestic as well.

In regards to altimetry, transition altitudes can change daily and are assigned by ATC. In Eastern Europe...Moscow...altitude are assigned in meters...necessitating a conversion to feet.

Also, in Africa and S. America...the pilots pretty much have to work their own ATC communication handoffs between FIR (nation) boundaries. Some ATC facilities don't communicate with ones next to them.

[PGT]

I don't get to say this that often but great post Doug

[seagull]

I like the LHR and SIN method for directing you to on your taxi route. Centerline lights are green and lead you to where you're going, extinguishing after you pass them. They just say "follow the green"!