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Say Again?
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Say Again? #67: The Book and Beyond - (Sep. 13, 2006)
AVweb's Don Brown is a big fan of quoting "The Book," but there's more than one book to read and lots of information out there to help you become a better and safer pilot.
Say Again? #66: Common Phraseology - (Aug. 16, 2006)
Back to basics this month. AVweb's Don Brown has some reminders on how (and why) common phraseology is not as good as clear phraseology.
Say Again? #65: Lost Perspective - (Jul. 19, 2006)
A safety person can get a strange perspective on the world -- especially one who has seen as much as AVweb's Don Brown has.
Say Again? #64: Flying Higher
- (Jun. 21, 2006)
You wanna go high? Wanna take that single-turbroprop or new VLJ into the the rarefied air above FL240? Things are a little different there, as AVweb's Don Brown explains in this month's Say Again? column.
Say Again? #63: A Phrase That Fits - (May 24, 2006)
The FAA is trying to be a "customer service" organization -- which is all well and good unless some customers get quick service and others get 40-mile backtrack because of how they filed their flight plan. AVweb's Don Brown worries about this and other safety issues in his Say Again column.
Say Again? #62: Too Close for Comfort - (Apr. 26, 2006)
We can learn a lot from accidents, but wouldn't it be great to learn from near accidents -- those that don't actually have to be reported? AVweb's Don Brown recently saw some dangerous situations that point out the problems with GPS, and he recounts them in this month's Say Again column.
Say Again? #61: It's Here!
- (Mar. 29, 2006)
Some of Don Brown's predictions about safety compromises caused by lack of ATC staffing are starting to come true. And if the number of planes increases (see VLJs) before the number of controllers does, we might see a hurricane of accidents and the FAA may replace FEMA as the agency of ill repute.
Say Again? #60: ATC 303 -- Bedrock ATC - (Mar. 1, 2006)
The history, the basics and the bedrock of ATC is all about making sure two planes don't get to the same point in space at the same time. You thought the space-time continuum only had to do with Einstein? Not even close, as AVweb's Don Brown discusses in his next 300-level ATC course.
Say Again? #59: Dear Chip - (Feb. 1, 2006)
On January 1, 2006, Warren "Chip" Jones replaced Don Brown as the Facility Safety Representative of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) at Atlanta Center. Don will continue his work as a Safety Representative for NATCA while he prepares for his upcoming retirement. Don's column this month is his advice letter to Chip.
Say Again? #58: ATC 207 -- The ILS - (Jan. 4, 2006)
Want an easy and relatively safe way to get into an airport that's IMC? Let your friendly air traffic controller give you vectors to the localizer and take that ILS right down to your port. But could there be some subtle tricks waiting to catch you when talking to ATC? This wouldn't be a column by AVweb's Don Brown if there weren't.
Say Again? #57: Überlingen
- (Dec. 7, 2005)
A quiet night with few airplanes in the sky and tired controllers working with them. Sounds like the typical midnight shift in any air traffic control room in the world. Until the radar goes out for maintenance and the phones don't work. AVweb's Don Brown wonders whether there will be enough controllers to prevent another midair collision like the one over Überlingen, Germany.
Say Again? #56: The More Things Change - (Nov. 9, 2005)
There is a lot of new technology coming to aviation and -- amazingly -- to air traffic control. But that doesn't mean things will get better; nor does it mean things that already work OK won't get corrupted by the latest and greatest. AVweb's Don Brown steps back from the bleeding edge of high-tech in this month's Say Again? column.
Say Again? #55: What I Want for Christmas - (Oct. 9, 2005)
This Christmas, AVweb's Don Brown would like a few things to make his job better. Many of them are things that pilots already have, but that doesn't make it any easier to get them for Don.
Say Again? #54: ATC 206 -- Holding - (Sep. 14, 2005)
Nobody wants to wait. Pilots in a hold are bored and yet anxious to finish the flight. But if you're in a hold, you can bet the controller is not at all bored. AVweb's Don Brown suggests ways to make holding easier and safer in the next course in his 200-series of communication classes.
Say Again? #53: Radio Realities - (Aug. 17, 2005)
Radio communication was invented over 100 years ago. You'd think we'd be able to do it better by now, but people tend to get sloppy. And sometimes the "professional" pilots are the worst. Until we get more controllers or fewer aircraft, AVweb's Don Brown says we have to start talking better.
Say Again? #52: Changing Culture - (Jul. 20, 2005)
Good pilots know better than to make a special request of ATC when flying in busy airspace; if the controller doesn't actually tell you off, then you'll hear the annoyance in his voice. But do you really know which areas are busiest? Things have changed and it's only going to get worse, as AVweb's Don Brown tells us in this month's column.
Say Again? #51: Lost Communications -- NORDO -- Part 2 - (Jun. 22, 2005)
You've made it almost all the way to your destination, in the clouds and lost comm ... what now? How do you get down, and how does ATC figure out what you're going to do once you decide? AVweb's Don Brown is as confused by the rules as you are.
Say Again? #50: Lost Communications -- NORDO -- Part 1 - (May 22, 2005)
"Atlanta Center -- how do you read?" "Atlanta Center?" "Anybody?!" Lost comm can be a minor event when your flight plan follows the rules. But when you're going Direct, how can ATC get all those other planes away from you? AVweb's Don Brown takes us on a flight when you don't talk to anybody.
Say Again? #49: Come Up a Bad Cloud - (Apr. 27, 2005)
A storm is brewing: Warm, wet air (increasing airline traffic) is about to collide with cold, dry air (decreasing air traffic controllers and FAA budget cutting) ... and the lightning spark will be all the new GPS approaches. "Storm-Tracker" (and AVweb columnist) Don Brown gives the forecast in this month's Say Again column.
Say Again? #48: Vectoring for Fun - (Mar. 30, 2005)
IFR pilots who spend time in non-radar areas are glad to get back in "radar contact" so they don't have to spend all that time on the full approach procedures. But then come the dreaded words, "... vectors for spacing ..." AVweb's Don Brown explains why ATC likes giving vectors and why it is better and safer for pilots, too.
Say Again? #47: On Course of Course - (Mar. 2, 2005)
When you file direct GPS, when are you on course? Seems an easy question, but not when ATC doesn't know where you're really going. And to make it worse, more and more pilots and controllers aren't using standard phraseology, meaning someone sometime soon is going to get really lost. Air traffic controller Don Brown is trying to help.
Say Again? #46: When Things Go Wrong - (Feb. 2, 2005)
To get your IFR clearance at a non-towered field, you could call Flight Service or the local Center RCO, but you know you're gonna get a delay waiting for some arrival to cancel IFR. Just launch VFR and pick up your IFR clearance in the air, right? AVweb's Don Brown knows it isn't always that easy -- or safe -- for pilots and for controllers.
Say Again? #45: Lies in the Dark - (Jan. 5, 2005)
AVweb's Don Brown had the opportunity to fly the airlines recently and had to deal with what someone probably would describe as an "air traffic control delay." Don thinks the FAA's newfound interest in a 10-year plan for ATC isn't going to help future delays and may even make them worse.
Say Again? #44: Looking For Trouble - (Dec. 8, 2004)
Trouble can come from an air traffic controller who, like AVweb's Don Brown, is conscious of all the ways things can go wrong and keeps bothering his supervisors about them. Trouble can also come from a radar system that, apparently, ignores the very traffic a controller (and other pilots) want to see. Don explains all in this month's Say Again? column.
Say Again? #43: All Points Bulletin - (Nov. 10, 2004)
Air Traffic Bulletins written for controllers may not seem important to a pilot, until you see one that starts, "A fatal aircraft crash ..." AVweb's Don Brown spends some time this month with a few points made for the benefit of controllers and, he hopes, pilots too.
Say Again? #42: The Mysterious D-Side - (Oct. 13, 2004)
The D-side isn't the song on the back of the C-side record ... it's an air traffic controller who uses brains rather than eyes to keep track of planes. A data controller can be the best friend a radar controller (and a pilot) ever had, but due to policy and personnel changes, D-sides are becoming rare birds. AVweb's Don Brown explains in this month's "Say Again?" column.
Say Again? #41: ATC 105 -- Phraseology - (Sep. 15, 2004)
You've got plenty to learn when becoming a pilot -- and one of the more intimidating things is talking on the microphone. But proper phraseology can save your life, and it's easier to learn when you're new. AVweb's Don Brown has another in his basic communication courses in this month's column.
Say Again? #40: Outside Looking In - (Aug. 18, 2004)
After years trying to convince pilots and controllers to adopt safer habits, AVweb's Don Brown is feeling beaten down and jaded. He's quite ready to retire. By chance, he recently attended two events that lifted his spirits and gave him a bit more faith in humanity and aviation, and he tells the tale in this month's 'Say Again?' column.
Say Again? #39: ATC 205 - IFR Flight Plan II - (Jul. 21, 2004)
Want another good reason to be careful how you file your flight plan? How about avoiding a midair collision? AVweb's Don Brown is back with another in his "courses" on better ATC and pilot communication. This month he's trying to figure out why some pilot wants to go to Kentucky via Canada.
Say Again? #38: ATC 104 -- VFR High Time - (Jun. 23, 2004)
Student and low-time pilots are expected to stumble a bit on the radio. But if you're a high-time pilot flying VFR, your bad habits (perhaps learned by imitating a smooth-talking jet jock) might be causing trouble for controllers and other pilots. AVweb's Don Brown reminds you that there's the book way, and then there's the way that could get a book thrown at you.
Say Again? #37: VFR In A Vacuum - (May 26, 2004)
Have you been turned down lately when you asked ATC for VFR advisories? Expect it to happen more and more often, especially when you and other pilots don't file a correct flight plan or use the proper phraseology. AVweb's Don Brown points out how the impending controller shortage will reduce the additional services ATC can provide.
Say Again? #36: Spring is Sprung - (Apr. 28, 2004)
Time once again for the weather to bring nasty thunderstorms into your favorite airspace. Some planes have long had on-board radar, and recently we've started to see NEXRAD radar on those GA glass-cockpit displays. This spring, AVweb's Don Brown finally has NEXRAD available on his radar scope. But keeping us out of thunderstorms never is that easy, is it?
Say Again? #35: Lessons Unlearned - (Mar. 31, 2004)
The National Airspace System has lots of redundancies; and some would say that takes more effort than is necessary. Why fly on airways when direct can be faster? Why read back the entire clearance or radio frequency change when you can just give your callsign? AVweb's Don Brown tells of a time when a perfect storm of at least 11 separate, small errors built up to bring two planes mere feet from each other at high speed.
Say Again? #34: It's No Joke - (Mar. 3, 2004)
It'd be easy to assume some pilots are just stupid, given the behavior AVweb's Don Brown sometimes sees in his radar screen. But since they've managed to work their way through the FAA certification process, it's more productive to look at the system problems to see why pilots seem to do stupid things.
Say Again? #33: ATC 204 -- IFR En Route - (Feb. 4, 2004)
Time to go back to school with AVweb's Don Brown. This time, he's discussing the pitfalls of IFR en route planning, especially short hops and requests for "direct-to." Get your charts handy and get ready to cruise.
Say Again? #32: Another Year - (Jan. 7, 2004)
While other pundits are making New Years' resolutions, AVweb's Don Brown is looking back -- back to when he first became a safety representative for NATCA - the National Air Traffic Controllers Association. Sadly, the safety problems he noticed then still haven't gotten better.
Say Again? #31: Traffic Time - (Dec 10 2003)
Do you know where the traffic is around you? The controller knows, and can usually tell you. But sometimes pilots make things more difficult than they need to be -- when we're just trying to keep away from everyone else. AVweb's Don Brown tells how you can work with ATC to get where you're going without running into someone.
Say Again? #30: The Little Big Flick - (Articles - November 12 2003)
When confused about what you should be doing, it helps to have the big picture. AVweb's Don Brown freely admits he doesn't always have The Big Flick to help him understand why ATC is being run the way it is. But he wonders if those running it (or funding it) have The Big Flick either.
Say Again? #29: Leaf Peepers (And Other Strange Critters) - (Articles - October 15 2003)
It's October, and the Leaf Peepers are out. Not some kind of birds -- they're folks flying around looking for fall colors. Wonderful way to spend the day -- and AVweb's Don Brown has a few suggestions when you want VFR traffic advisories for something other than a trip from Point A to Point B.
Say Again? #28: ATC 203 - IFR Flight Plan - (Articles - September 17 2003)
Everybody who flies a flight IFR has to file a flight plan. Even if it's just a pop-up clearance with ATC, there's gonna be a flight plan somewhere. But pilots (and others) are still not following the rules, and safety is being compromised. AVweb's Don Brown continues his 200-series of online IFR "courses" with this discussion of what should and shouldn't be in an IFR flight plan.
Say Again? #27: 12 Minutes - (Articles - August 20 2003)
AVweb's Don Brown is trying something different this month: 12 minutes of fictional radio transmissions (just like those NTSB CVR transcripts) to show how a few innocent errors and omissions in communication can start to overload an air traffic controller on what sounds like a quiet shift.
Say Again? #26: It's the Little Things - (Articles - July 23 2003)
There are a lot of big things that can kill you in aviation, and we've heard them all: T-storms, ice, marginal VFR, and runway incursions, to name a few. Sometimes insidious little things can cause even more trouble for pilots and controllers, because we haven't heard about them. AVweb's Don Brown relates a few of those in this month's Say Again column.
Say Again? #25: Beating the System - (Articles - June 25 2003)
The more pilots try to beat the system, the more work controllers have to do to keep everybody safe. AVweb's Don Brown had a recent difficult week when Atlanta ARTCC was understaffed, under-radared, and overstressed. This kind of week will only become more common as both traffic levels and ATC retirements increase, unless everybody goes back to following the rules.
Say Again? #24: Biennial Review - (Articles - May 28 2003)
Over two years with AVweb, Atlanta ARTCC Controller Don Brown has discussed many safety problems caused by controllers and pilots who try to bend rules they don't understand. In this review, he notes some improvements and some ongoing problems, but he still loves what he's doing.
Say Again? #23: May Day - (Articles - May 1 2003)
Spring has sprung, the birds are singing, and more planes are flying. Time to think about the unthinkable -- what to do during an emergency. AVweb's Don Brown reminds us what ATC can do to help.
Say Again? #22: I Dare You - (Articles - Apr 2 2003)
Do you dare say what's really on your mind? Do you dare take a stand for what you believe in even if it's unpopular? AVweb's Don Brown took the dare and writes about his pet peeves in this month's Say Again? column.
Say Again? #21: ATC 103 -- VFR Cross Country - (Articles - Mar 5 2003)
Although he has a certain affection for VFR traffic passing through his airspace, AVweb's Don Brown is sometimes surprised by what pilots know (or, more important, don't know) about the services an ARTCC can and cannot provide. Even experienced, professional pilots can learn things for when the weather is CAVU.
Say Again? #20: Communications -- The Top Ten - (Articles - Feb 9 2003)
There are probably a lot more than 10 problems with pilot/controller communication. But as AVweb's Don Brown tells us, if we could solve these 10, the Com frequencies would be a lot less congested, and things would be even safer.
Say Again? #19: ATC 302 -- The Hub - (Articles - Jan 7 2003)
AVweb's Don Brown continues his 300-level series of classes by discussing the interaction of DPs and STARs and how they affect traffic flow into multiple, nearby airports. When you know some of what ATC has to consider when working heavy traffic, you can use them as an asset in your cockpit rather than an inconvenience.
Say Again? #18: War
Stories - (Articles - Dec 11 2002)
There are some really great things about how the U.S. military forces
interact with civilian ATC. There are also some not-so-great interactions.
AVweb's Don Brown has seen them all, and has a few stories to tell about them.
Say Again?
#17: Non-Radar Daze - (Articles - Nov 4 2002)
It all comes together. All that ranting to convince pilots and controllers to
use standard, by-the-book procedures comes together when that one tool,
seemingly designed just to increase efficiency, is out of service: the radar.
AVweb's Don Brown reminds everyone why we need to remain current with non-radar
procedures.
Say Again?
#16: Flight Data Processing - (Articles - Oct 16 2002)
We know what you think: The AIM is boring and needlessly pedantic, the
7110.65 used by controllers is equally complex, and neither reflects the
"much more efficient" way we really fly and control. Once again,
however, AVweb's Don Brown is here to show how inefficient and unsafe aviation
can be when you don't follow those procedures.
Say Again? #15: ATC
301 — Airspace Stratums - (Articles - Sep 18 2002)
You're a pilot, you can think in three dimensions. But can you do it as well
as a controller? In this month's Say Again, AVweb's Don Brown shows us that,
with a little knowledge of the various levels of airspace and how controllers
use them, you can make your flight easier for both yourself and your
controllers.
Say Again? #14: ATC
202 — Instrument Approaches - (Articles - Aug 20 2002)
In the latest of his intermittent series of "courses" on ATC/pilot
communication, AVweb's Don Brown addresses the issues we face during an
instrument approach. What exactly are you required to do? How should you ask for
what you want to do? Read on ...
Say Again?
#13: System Safety Theory and Practice - (Articles - Jul 25 2002)
Air traffic control is in the news again, which means more people asking more
questions (and making more uneducated statements). To head some of them off at
the pass, AVweb's Don Brown uses this month's Say Again column to explain how
the U.S. ATC system uses many layers of safety to prevent midair collisions, and
what would cause it to fail.
Say Again? #12: A
Week in the Life - (Articles - Jun 28 2002)
AVweb's Don Brown has spent the last year or so giving us pilots suggestions
based on what he sees on his side of the scope. But did you ever wonder what a
regular day is like for him? A cup of coffee in a dark, quiet room while bossing
pilots around? Acid-reflux-inducing tin-pushing early-retirement insanity?
Actually, there's no such thing as a regular day ...
Say Again? #11: I
Think, Therefore I Rant - (Articles - May 30 2002)
AVweb's Don Brown has been attending safety meetings and training sessions
again and the news is not altogether good. Deals are up and the situation is not
likely to improve as capacity problems worsen. Something's gotta change and it
will probably have to be the way that pilots and controllers communicate with
one another. Don discusses the why and the how in this month's "Say
Again."
Say Again? #10: ATC
201 — IFR Departure - (Articles - Apr 16 2002)
You can't play the game unless you can get on base and, sometimes, even that
task seems insurmountable. So it goes with instrument flying. AVweb's Don Brown
examines what it takes to get your ducks on the pond in this month's "Say
Again."
Say Again? #9: Maiden
and Me - (Articles - Apr 1 2002)
Every so often, a major radar outage makes the headlines. Flights are
delayed, safety is compromised and some news reporter theorizes that it's time
for a major upgrade to our national system. Just how bad is it, anyway? For an
insider's view, read what Don Brown has to say in this month's "Say
Again."
Say Again? #8: Air
Traffic Chaos - (Articles - Mar 9 2002)
It's that time of year again. The moist Gulf air and the Arctic air collide
somewhere east of Phoenix and lines of thunderstorms rise into the flight
levels. You've skirted more than a few of them over the years and know how it
turned out for you; but how did it work out for the guys who opted for the other
route. AVweb's Don Brown knows. He was watching the entire mess unfold on his
CRT. If you want to hear from someone who's seen it all, don't miss the latest
installment of "Say Again."
Say Again? #7: ATC
102 — Blue Sky IFR - (Articles - Feb 7 2002)
ATC101 covered some of the elementary aspects of pilot-controller
communications. ATC102 picks up where the the last class ended, building on the
topics, exploring new subjects and laying out a new series of Do's and Don'ts.
Don Brown, the NATCA Safety Representative at the Atlanta Air Route Traffic
Control Center, fills us in.
Say Again?
#6: Decisions, Decisions ... - (Articles - Jan 9 2002)
Ever seen a controller stop off at 31-Flavors at the end of a shift? No? Ever
wonder why? By the end of the day, evening, or night (as the case may be), that
friendly voice on the ATC frequency has been making several decisions a minute
for eight hours or so. The ATC decision-making process has a profound impact on
those of us who fly within the system. Don Brown, the NATCA Safety
Representative at the Atlanta Air Route Traffic Control Center, fills us in.
Say Again? #5: To
Grandma's House We Go - (Articles - Dec 12 2001)
Heading home for the holidays? Seasonal deteriorating weather and overcrowded
airways will make flying a challenge. It's not an easy time of year for ATC
either. Don Brown, the NATCA Safety Representative at the Atlanta Air Route
Traffic Control Center, discusses the pitfalls and pratfalls that accompany
holiday air travel.
Say Again? #4: Tape
Talk - (Articles - Nov 15 2001)
More than many other activities, air traffic control depends on the quick,
easy understanding of the spoken word, often over a scratchy, static-filled
frequency that even Marconi himself wouldn't recognize. That's why there are
written procedures that cover ATC communications. Don Brown, the NATCA Safety
Representative at the Atlanta Air Route Traffic Control Center, explains why the
procedures are the way they are.
Say Again? #3: ATC
101 - (Articles - Oct 9 2001)
To the controller trainee, ATC presents almost as many mysteries as it does
to the average pilot. Two of these mysteries involve handoffs and VFR flight
following, which can often arise at the same time. Believe it or not, there is
method to the madness. Using some real-life examples and the Aeronautical
Information Manual, Don Brown, the NATCA Safety Representative at the Atlanta
Air Route Traffic Control Center, explains all.
Say Again? #2: The
GPS Mess - (Articles - Sep 19 2001)
It's no secret that the Global Positioning System (GPS) has made life much
easier for pilots. What might be a secret is that it's made life much tougher
for controllers, who now must spend more time than ever coordinating with other
sectors and facilities. Don Brown, the Safety Representative For NATCA at the
Atlanta Air Route Traffic Control Center, explains all.
Say Again? #1: A Wing
and a Prayer - (Articles - Aug 22 2001)
One of the keys for a pilot to become effective and safe in today's airspace
is concise communication. The "party-line" communication system with
which most pilots and controllers must contend on a daily basis sometimes
hampers and sometimes enhances safety. As Don Brown, the Safety Representative
For NATCA at the Atlanta Air Route Traffic Control Center explains in his first
regular column for AVweb, using the radio effectively is a skill that both
controllers and pilots must master.
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