Podcasts by Radar Contact
How to communicate effectively and confidently with air traffic control. For pilots of all experiences levels, flying VFR or IFR.
Further podcasts by Jeff Kanarish
Podcast on the topic Luftfahrt
All episodes
Using ATC to Check the Status of a MOA from 2017-01-04T21:41:49
Is it safe to fly VFR through a MOA? It depends.
Listen
Taxi Clearance Anxiety from 2016-09-30T21:17:06
If you have ever felt butterflies in your stomach when faced with contacting Ground Control for taxi clearance, you have experienced something I call Taxi Clearance Anxiety. It’s a made-up term but...
Listen
Contacting Flight Service; Searching for IFR Traffic in an Uncontrolled Pattern from 2016-08-30T20:45:06
If you can get all the aviation weather data you need online, do you really need to know how to contact Flight Service on the radio? It depends on who you ask. I say yes. A Flight Service agent can...
Listen
Making Mistakes on the Aircraft Radio from 2016-06-21T22:10:48
In this episode, we’ll talk about why you make mistakes on the radio and what it says about your performance as a pilot. I think my analysis will surprise you (in a good way). Also, some pilots hav...
Listen
Aircraft Color in Place of Call Sign is a Bad Idea from 2016-04-24T20:12:27
“Town and Country Traffic, red and white Skyhawk, 4-mile final, Runway One Seven, Town and Country.” “Town and Country Traffic, blue and white Warrior, turning base, Runway One Seven, Town and Coun...
Listen
Common Traffic Advisory Frequencies and ATC as Customer Service from 2016-04-10T22:38:23
This edition of the Radar Contact Show consolidates the previous 3 articles about using a Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF) and about ATC as customer service organization. If you would rathe...
Listen
What ATC’s ‘Make Closed Traffic’ Clearance Means from 2016-02-28T06:16:39
“Cessna 9130 Delta, Pensasoda Tower, make right closed traffic. Runway 11, cleared for takeoff.” What has ATC just authorized you to do? More importantly, what has ATC not authorized you to do? The...
Listen
We’d Be Thrilled If You Simply Used Your Call Sign! from 2016-01-18T12:33:47
I’ve spent a lot of time at this website talking to you about how to format your call sign when transmitting on the radio. While focusing on tiny details, I failed to recognize the bigger problem. ...
Listen
Air Traffic Control Tips, Goodies, and Presents from 2015-12-23T14:47:31
Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, or if you prefer, Seasonally Adjusted Greetings. I come bearing gifts of good cheer, ATC tips, techniques, and other goodies. Normally, I’d tell you what’s in store...
Listen
Aviation Headsets<$400: What We Know So Far from 2015-11-25T14:56:19
The results of the survey about aviation headsets costing less than $400 are in. The survey asked, is there an economical headset that feels good on the head, provides good audio quality, and holds...
Listen
When to Make Position Reports in an Uncontrolled Airport Traffic Pattern from 2015-11-10T13:54:46
Radar Contact is back! In the first show after a months-long break, we’ll talk about when to make position reports in an uncontrolled pattern. You may think you already know the answer, but if you ...
Listen
NextGen Air Traffic Control and You from 2015-06-24T04:32:40
In this month’s edition of the Radar Contact Show we are going to look at how the FAA’s NextGen version of air traffic control will affect you. We’ll also look at what it means to be off your assig...
Listen
Caution Wake Turbulence for the Departing Boeing 757 from 2015-05-02T09:55:26
“Cessna 9130D, caution wake turbulence for the departing Boeing 757, Runway 25, cleared for takeoff.” Gulp! Never fear, ATC is here to protect you against the hazards of wake turbulence. No kidding...
Listen
Shaky Emergencies and Cranky Air Traffic Controllers from 2015-03-12T08:32:24
Hey Air Traffic Control, I think I might have a big problem but I’m not declaring an emergency. Standby for further information. In today’s show we are going to discuss aircraft problems that fall ...
Listen
Aircraft Position Reports from 2015-02-03T07:55:06
Reporting your position on the radio, while in an uncontrolled airport pattern, is a little bit like playing a game of Marco Polo. Other pilots in the pattern rely on your timely and accurate repor...
Listen
How to Work with ATC Around Class B and Other Closed Airspace from 2014-12-14T03:31:29
If you are a pilot who hates to work with ATC because you feel doing so would restrict your flying freedom, I’ve got surprising news for you. Working with ATC can actually lighten your load and hel...
Listen
Consequences of Declaring an Emergency with ATC from 2014-11-27T02:47:58
My airplane has a problem. A big problem. I think I can handle it. No, I’m sure I can handle it. Maybe I can handle it. Can I handle it? I’m not sure.I had better declare an emergency with ATC and ...
Listen
Use ATC to Save Your Life from 2014-09-22T08:11:27
Daher-Socata TBM-850. Source: fr.wikipedia.orgEarlier this month, a single-engine turboprop aircraft crashed into the ocean near Jamaica. Early indications are the airplane’s cabin pressurization s...
Listen
When to Not Respond to ATC (Really!) from 2014-06-01T04:21:18
See no ATC. Hear No ATC. Speak no ATC. As pilots we are trained to respond to ATC each and every time ATC talks to us. Did you know there are times when you should not talk to ATC? It’s true. In th...
Listen
Timing is Everything in ATC Communication from 2014-04-08T01:44:16
Two people speaking to each other at the same time does not communication make. It’s true in a face-to-face encounter and it’s true when trying to communicate with ATC. When 2 pilots try to transmi...
Listen
Control Tower Options from 2014-03-15T07:07:15
“Dice right, ice cream, alert, 654 Jose. . . Brown Richmond 96 double . . . hut hut!” What?! I’ll give you a hint: Football and air traffic control. Here’s another hint: trying to understand Tower’...
Listen
What Was That Tower Controller Thinking? from 2014-02-20T02:11:37
My article, “Walk the Talk” is in the March issue of Flight Training magazine. Pilot (calling Tower): “Cessna 9130 Delta, request left closed traffic.” Tower: “Cessna 9130 Delta, make right closed ...
Listen
How to Land at the Wrong Airport with ATC Help from 2014-01-15T05:49:52
Proximity of Clark Downtown (Taney County) Airport to Branson Airport, Missouri. Last week a listener wrote to tell me about an incident in which a general aviation aircraft landed at the wrong air...
Listen
Voice Activated Flying from 2014-01-06T03:34:42
Cessna 9130, move rook to King 1. I’m afraid I can’t do that Dave. Air traffic control is voice-activated flying. Don’t believe me? Consider this. You’re about to enter a tower-controlled airport p...
Listen
Sterile Cockpit Means Quiet! from 2013-11-20T23:25:19
“Shhh! I’m trying to use the phone radio” Borrowed from “Pee Wee Herman’s Big Adventure.” In this week’s show, we are going to talk about something called sterile cockpit and how it helps you commu...
Listen
Radar Contact: Airport Traffic Pattern Position Reports from 2013-10-09T00:05:45
This photo has nothing to do with this article. A photo of an A-10 just increases the overall quality of the website. You are approaching an uncontrolled airport traffic pattern and you need to kno...
Listen
Radar Contact 32: Finding Your Way to Talk to ATC from 2013-09-13T00:00:06
Round dial versus glass. Boeing 767-300 (top) and Boeing 767-400 (bottom). Learning to talk to air traffic control on the radios can be tough. Learning to talk to ATC on the radios while learning t...
Listen
How to Switch from Approach to Tower Control from 2013-07-30T21:36:02
“Chestnut 372 Victor Charlie, you’re six miles north of the airport. Contact Propinquity Tower on 119.6.” That is how the switch from Approach Control to Tower Control should sound. Does it always ...
Listen
Land and Hold Short, Kimosabi from 2013-07-10T00:00:44
Hi-yo Silver! In this week’s show we are going to saddle up with the Lone Ranger and break out a lasso, I mean, LAHSO. I know, we should quit horsing around and get down to business. We’ve got mask...
Listen
FAA to Pilots: Know the Radio Standard Phraseology from 2013-06-23T09:34:32
Someone pinch me, I must be dreaming. A couple of weeks ago, the FAA published two draft proposals that will change the way you and I will train for our Private Pilot Certificate and for our Inst...
Listen