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United States Pilots Association |
This email information comes to us from President Steve Uslan. Andrew is Steve’s Angel Flight Wing Leader. We feel the message is an important one, and are therefore forwarding it on to our USPA members.
From: Andrew Swartz
To: Steve Uslan
Sent: Tuesday, June 27, 2006 11:04 AM
Subject: ATC deviations
Two Angel Flight pilots have been involved in “deviations” in Ft. Worth Center airspace in the past few weeks. Both were on Angel Flight missions, and using the Angel Flight (NGF) call sign.
In the past, deviations from clearances, such as wrong altitude, wrong heading, taking the wrong clearance, etc., would likely have been overlooked. There is a new environment within the FAA today. An airspace violation, deviation from a clearance, busted altitudes, etc., are now written up, without exception. These deviations are forwarded to Flight Standards. As pilots we must be diligent about complying with all FARs and controller instructions. If our actions cause a deviation, we may face enforcement actions.
In both of the incidents, there was confusion about the flight’s call sign. And in both cases, there were aircraft with very similar call signs like “Cessna 01T” and “Angel Flight 10T”. The confusion went a step further when the controller mixed the numbers up to something like “Angel Flight 01T”. In at least one of the incidents, the Angel Flight pilot pointed out the mistake to the controller multiple times. It appears that the controller never got the call sign correct. In both cases mistakes were made. One flight inadvertently flew into a hot MOA. The other flight had an altitude deviation. Both of these incidents resulted in deviation reports.
In at least one of the incidents, the pilot acknowledged ATC instructions without using their call sign. The controller transmitted a clearance to climb to 7,000 feet, and heard an immediate response. The responding pilot did not use their call sign in accepting the climb instruction. Unfortunately, it was the wrong pilot, but it wasn’t caught by the controller because of the lack of a call sign. In both incidents an ATC instruction was accepted by the wrong pilot.
The Angel Flight call sign is an important benefit for both our patients and our pilots. It gives us a great deal of recognition in the aviation community. Let’s work together to keep recognition positive. Practice good communication skills. Use your call sign in every communication. Two clicks of the microphone button is not sufficient, nor appropriate. Be proud of that call sign. If there is confusion over your call sign, be diligent in clearing up that confusion.
The worst accident in aviation history happened in 1977 when two loaded 747s collided killing 584 people. That accident was caused at least in part by improper communications terminology by one of the pilots. Proper communication techniques do matter!
If you do have an incident involving a deviation from a clearance, you should immediately file a NASA Aviation System Reporting Form. The form is available for download at http://asrs.arc.nasa.gov/forms_nf.htm .
Filing this form within 10 days of the infraction reduces the possibility of an FAA enforcement action, unless the infraction led to an accident or was a criminal act.
Andrew Swartz Wayne Fink
AFSC Wing Leader Chair Aviation Safety Counselor
Jan Hoynacki, Executive Director
United States Pilots Association