Opposing Bases: Air Traffic Talk

Episode 138 Show Notes   Topic of the show: This week we will discuss our opinions on navigating complex airspace with several different controlling agencies and airspace boundaries.  Who should you call when you are approaching a Class Delta?  How far above the Delta should you fly?  What does the controller see when you are tagged up by another facility?    Timely Feedback: PATRON Echo Hotel got his instrument rating! Congratulations! PATRON Tango Foxtrot shares his thoughts on the Class B violator. Delta Golf comments on the Terps Elf’s response to his original feedback 2 years ago! PATRON Juliet Echo Charlie provides audio feedback regarding OB136. PATRON Tango Papa shares his thoughts on non standard phraseology during approaches. PATRON Alpha Whiskey declares a national day of mourning for the loss of several VOR approaches in TRIAD airspace. Link mentioned: https://bluelineaviationllc.com/our-future/     Feedback PATRON Alpha Lima asked about wake turbulence restrictions and his low approach behind

Episode 137 Show Notes   Topic of the show: RH and AG are going to talk about separation errors.  What happens to us when we violate a rule?  How does our reporting culture encourage the sharing of data to enhance safety?    Timely Feedback: PATRON Juliet Hotel is back from his long, unplanned cross country. PATRON Tango November is a private pilot! Congratulations! PATRON Joe the Airbus Guy sent in audio about approach planning. Golf Delta sent in information about ALTRVs.   Feedback Juliet Charlie has a question about VHF and IAF clearances. Bravo Lima has a question about a strange application of visual separation. PATRON Mike Bravo has tips on tracking ADS-B from home. PATRON Foxtrot Kilo shared this article: “When you gotta deviate” written by Tarrance Kramer. Check it out. PATRON Echo Alpha asks about round robin flight plans.   Have a great week and thanks for listening!  Visit our website at OpposingBases.com You can support  our show using Patreon or visiting our support page on the website.  Kee

Episode 136 Show Notes   Topic of the show: We get a couple of different perspectives on the Class Bravo violator.  What else could the controller do to make sure the pilot was not medically incapacitated?  Did the pilot need special assistance?  We will share our opinion and get to more of your awesome feedback!   Timely Feedback: PATRON Tango Kilo is an instrument pilot! Congratulations! PATRON Kilo Whiskey sent in the article about flight following requesting handoffs. Juliet Alpha Lima sent in some fruity corrections. Thank you! Mike Hotel offers some AIM examples of how to handle frequency changes with the same controller. Thank you! Horse Country or Potato Country?     Feedback PATRON Juliet Hotel asks about a clearance to a big, busy airport and lost communications. PATRON Alpha Whiskey sent a story about the local fued between TRIAD and Duke approach. TERPS ELF Romeo Whiskey offers two options for a missed approach. PATRON Romeo Whiskey Kilo asked for clarification on intro phraseology.   Have a

Episode 135 Show Notes   Topic of the show:  This week, we are going to read a story about a missed radio call and subsequent pilot initiated go around.  Situational awareness and prompt pilot action prevented a loss of runway separation.  AG and RH will discuss what we can all learn from this story.    Timely Feedback: Juliet Papa is a Private Pilot! Congratualtions! PATRON Juliet Hotel sent in a Christmas Laser Thingamajig story. Alpha November has an idea for a new shirt! #bingobangobongo PATRON Juliet Echo Charlie sent a link to a simulation of a Flight Check. Check it out here! PATRON Hotel Kilo sent his thoughts on the Class Bravo incident and a link to an article about the Brotherhood in Avaition.     Feedback PATRON Kilo Whiskey asked about “Flight following with handoffs”. PATRON Bravo Bravo Whiskey asks how he can better prepare his student pilots for solo operations at a towered airport. PATRON Juliet Bravo asks about flight following with handoffs. PATRON Juliet Whisky Mike is a Commercial Pil

Episode 134 Show Notes   Topic of the show: AG and RH give their opinion on how to handle a potential violation of airspace.  How can we conduct ourselves on the radio to avoid escalating a conflict?  What actions do the professionals take in situations where they may have made a mistake?  Thank you to PATRONs IM, CH, and MD for your awesome answers!   Timely Feedback: Juliet Oscar wants us to clarify what “low” airspace means. PATRON Mike Delta wants to know what we think about checking in on a newly assigned frequency with the same controller. PATRON Alpha Mike Bravo learned the funny way that remarks need to be brief in your flight plan.   Feedback PATRON Oscar Charlie asks about flight following in busy airspace. PATRON Charlie Alpha Whiskey has thoughts about phone numbers and canceling IFR flight plans. Romeo Kilo asks about traffic counts. Have a great week and thanks for listening!  Visit our website at OpposingBases.com You can support  our show using Patreon or visiting our support page on the w

Episode 133 Show Notes   Topic of the show:  What happens when we file an IFR flight plan in the air but the controller has already cleared us to our destination before we call Flight Service?  Why would the pilot have to call FSS if they had a clearance already? We will cover this and more of your awesome feedback.    Timely Feedback: PATRON Delta Mike asked about advertising our favorite approach instead of ILS approaches. Why not? Mike Delta sent in audio of an aircraft squawking 1 7 7 6 on July 4th. #America Detla Charlie offers insight into the comms issue down near Jaguar center. PATRON Echo Hotel made a ForeFlight content pack for the TRIAD area. PATRON Tango Bravo wants to know what to say after a VFR practice approach with no separation services is provided. India Lima asked about ALTRV phraseology.   Feedback Supreme Galactic Aviation Commander PATRON Lima Foxtrot sent a menagerie of feedback! #tally-HO Juliet Mike asked if there is specific guidance for similar sounding call signs. PATRON Bravo

Episode 132 Show Notes   Topic of the show:  This week, RH and AG discuss the differences between approach types in terms of pilot and controller workload and difficulty.   What is our favorite type of approach and why?  And of course, more of your awesome questions!   Timely Feedback: Delta Yankee has timely feedback about the closely spaced parallel approaches and visual conditions. PATRON Delta Bravo shares a lesson in Bay Area reporting points near Valley Airport and the Pruneyard!   Feedback PATRON Bravo Sierra asks about the timing of filing an IFR flight plan. PATRON Oscar Charlie has a potpourri of untimely feedback. PATRON Echo Hotel asks about procedure during poor radio coverage transitions. PATRON Sierra Hotel sent a link and asks us to interpret this helicopter procedure. Tango Sierra asks about rejecting transponder codes. PATRON Romeo Lima Hotel sent in this great link. They read our minds!   Question of the Week/Month What can we learn from the Class Bravo airspace violator exchange we’ve

Episode 131 Show Notes   Topic of the show: AG and RH continue the discussion on traffic; specifically calling traffic in sight and the pilot’s responsibilities after the call is made.  What happens if you lose the traffic?  What are the controller’s responsibilities after the pilot says they lost the traffic?  All of that and more of your awesome feedback!   Timely Feedback: Supreme Galactic Aviation Commander PATRON India Mike got a slam dunk clearance! PATRON Charlie Papa sent in audio about looking for traffic. PATRON Romeo Whiskey hit a bird but he is close to his first solo! Supreme Galactic Aviation Commander PATRON Papa Lime from Race City Flight Operations asked about implications of ADS-B on minimum vectoring altitudes.     Feedback PATRON Alpha Tango is involved in “opposing bases” to the same runway? Juliet Sierra wants to know if joining the localizer if a controller forgets the turn is appropriate. PATRON Alpha Whiskey has a question about entering a hold. Have a great week and thanks for li

Episode 130 Show Notes   Topic of the show: AG and RH explain several different types of traffic calls and situations.  Do we need the pilots to see one another?  What happens if you have them in sight?  What happens if you don’t see them?    Timely Feedback: India Lima walks us down his memory lane and his amazing career in air traffic. PATRON Bravo Sierra has a great story about traffic in sight! Romeo Mike got some terrible vectors from RH last week. Alpha Uniform has some advice for applicants taking the air traffic admission test.   Feedback PATRON Bravo Whiskey discusses traffic to closely spaced parallel runways. PATRON Alpha Whiskey wants to know if we can use just ADS-B to identify a target. PATRON Sierra Mike has a question about a tricky approach. Have a great week and thanks for listening!  Visit our website at OpposingBases.com You can support   our show using Patreon or visiting our support page on the website.  Keep the feedback coming, it drives the show! Don’t be shy, use the “Send Audio

Episode 129 Show Notes   Topic of the show: AG and RH discuss ATC traffic calls. When do we issue them?  What are the pilot responsibilities for reporting traffic in sight?  What can controllers do knowing pilots have other aircraft in sight.  We answer all these questions and much more.    Timely Feedback: Delta Alpha from Big Apple asks about staffing and training. PATRON Alpha Whiskey asks about a strange approach clearance. Delta Bravo Charlie calls for an end to PTAC drool! Bravo Whiskey offers a spelling lesson on Whiskey vs. Whisky PATRON Hotel Bravo offers clarity on the statement about ADS-B.     Feedback PATRON Juliet Hotel cannot believe it isn’t easier to contact pilots after landing and forgetting to close IFR flight plans. PATRON Bravo Whiskey tells a story of how he helped a controller in a jam. Have a great week and thanks for listening!  Visit our website at OpposingBases.com You can support  our show using Patreon or visiting our support page on the website.  Keep the feedback coming, it

Episode 128 Show Notes Topic of the show: AG and RH discuss how controllers all have their own way of doing things.  What happens when we sit down and the previous controller created a situation we don’t like?  How do we make the problem run our way?   Timely Feedback: Delta Victor from the approach control mentioned last week responds to our discussion about an arrival to a Class Delta being left to high. Thank you, DV! Charlie Whiskey Sierra want to know why pilots are using up frequency time to check their ADS-B. Link: https://adsbperformance.faa.gov/PAPRRequest.aspx PATRON Tango Foxtrot interprets “practical” and “practicable”. Army Juliet Golf gives his input on “land as soon as practical”. PATRON Hotel Bravo has input on the ADS-B testing issue.   Feedback PATRON Sierra Mike wants to know how controllers keep all this information together. PATRON Charlie Mike from the Frozen North has a question about pilots and controllers getting to know each other. PATRON Charlie Alpha Whisky want to know about ou

Episode 127 Show Notes   Topic of the show: RH and AG discuss what a pilot can do to get out of a jam when they are left high on an approach.    Timely Feedback: PATRON Tango Hotel sent in a great audio question! Bravo Foxtrot got selected to take the air traffic test. Congratulations!   Feedback Echo Romeo asks about “approved as requested” phraseology. Charlie Alpha asks for our take on partially reopening a closed runway. Juliet Lima is training to become a CFI and has some AIM interpretations to share. November Papa wants to settle the debate over using VMC or VFR to describe the weather situation. Question of the Week/Month After being issued a traffic call from ATC, are you required to find the target?  If you do see the target, are you required to tell ATC you have it in sight?  And if it’s traffic to follow and you have them in sight, is the pilot required to maintain a standard of separation in terms of mileage?  Tell us here. Have a great week and thanks for listening!  Visit our website at Oppo

Episode 126 Show Notes Topic of the show: AG and RH break down the importance of timing when turning aircraft onto final and illustrate the differences between aircraft with widely different speeds.  Timely Feedback: Air Traffic Controllers are an integral part of the aviation safety system! PATRON Charlie Mike left audio about aircraft equipment knowledge. Whiskey Echo Bravo left feedback about the Blue Angles comm use. PATRON Delta Mike Guy Named After a Texas Town left feedback about the foodtruck Fly-In at Race City Flight Operations last week. SGAC PATRON Papa Lima had a packed house at the Fly-In! PATRON Alpha Tango chimes in about opening audio. PATRON Charlie Hotel is going to be a controller. Congratulations! PATRON Echo Alpha talks about vectors to final. SGAC PATRON India Mike talks about tight airspace and turns to final.   Feedback Juliet Golf sent an update about his Army helicopter training! PATRON Zulu Sierra talks about the nuances of GPS programming and the autopilot. Mike Victor Hotel se

Episode 125 Show Notes Topic of the show:  RH and AG got the help of a TERPS expert answering a listener question about unpublished hold instructions on a missed approach.  Links referenced in the Terps Elf answer: FAA's Instrument Flight Procedures Information Gateway , FAA Form 8260-2  , CRQ ILS 24   Timely Feedback: PATRON helped us answer a question about the Blue Angels and frequency usage. Kilo Kilo sent in answers to a few questions of the week. PATRON Alpha Tango commented on the new show introduction audio and show swag.   Feedback Tango Mike the Fire Truck Guy asked about “ATC Zero” phraseology. PATRON Bravo Sierra sent a great question about “full length” takeoff phraseology. PATRON Echo Alpha asked why some center controllers won’t vector to final and some will provide the service. PATRON Alpha Tango asked about ADS-B checks and what the controllers need to do in order to accomplish the task.   Question of the Week/Month When a vector to final looks inadequate, do you adjust without telling t

Episode 124 Show Notes Topic of the show: AG and RH discuss why we refer to the aircraft on approach as “my final”.  Why are we so possessive of this area of airspace and why do we celebrate when we do it well? Mentioned in the opening: Race City Flight Operations at 14A Airport (Lake Norman Airport).  Stop by on May 16th for some food trucks, airplanes, and a reminder of “normal”.  Also, check out opposingbases.com/shop to get the first official OB merchandise sold in the Opposing Bases store!  Sale ends on Friday and if you order now, you can take advantage of free shipping! Timely Feedback: Supreme Galactic Aviation Commander PATRON Papa Lima is being forced to listen to us in normal speed! PATRON Echo Golf sent audio about the question from Joe the Airbus Guy. PATRON Hotel Mike Bravo is preparing for a new role as a pilot at his company. PATRON Juliet Echo Charlie sent another awesome audio clip about the recent wave of military aircraft fly overs in honor of first responders and front-line workers. PATR

Episode 123 Show Notes Topic of the show: AG and RH break down the details of an arrival with “descend via” instructions with the help of PATRON Joe the Airbus Guy.  We also find out what our listeners want to do in aviation when we get back to the new normal. Timely Feedback: PATRON Echo Golf sent in audio feedback about the show. PATRON Whiskey Charlie sent a confession. PATRON Sierra Hotel sent a link about a local company helping the fight against the pandemic. Feedback PATRON Echo Hotel is going to get his checkride done! Good luck! PATRON Delta Whiskey Tango is going to resume flight training and get his medical taken care of ASAP! PATRON Charlie Mike is going to witness the beauty of flying in Alaska. PATRON Tango Juliet Mike is going to get back to Angel Flights. PATRON Mike Delta is looking forward to the Fly in at BQ1. PATRON Echo Alpha is going to get back to instructing. Show mentions:  atcsaks.com Check them out!  And thanks for supporting the show!  Have a great week and thanks for listenin

Episode 122 Show Notes Topic of the show: What is taking that controller so long?  Whiskey Charlie sent in a question on OB120 about a reroute that took a little while in the tower.  On this episode, we will hear from two of the controllers that work at the facility providing the outstanding service.  We find out why the reroute took so long, what obstacles are in the controller’s way, and how the controller tried his best using paper charts! Timely Feedback: PATRON Tango Foxtrot sent some more local knowledge about SoCal and intersection issues. PATRON Sierra Mike sent in autopilot comments and some resource management comments. PATRON Juliet Echo Charlie collected some audio of someone we know in an awesome ground control session. Feedback PATRON Local Mike Bravo and PATRON Foxtrot Kilo ask about GPS Interference testing. Juliet Kilo Lima sent in a response to the question of the week about instructors and is looking for some ways to handle communication issues with Non-Native English Speaking pilots. Ec

Episode 121 Show Notes Topic of the show: AG and RH got some great feedback about two topics recently: flight following in the SoCal area and the use of autopilot on checkrides.  We will share our thoughts and you can hear what our listeners think!  RH and AG were recently interviewed by Carl Valeri on the Stuck Mic AvCast episode 237! Timely Feedback: Part 1: PATRONS Bravo Sierra, Delta Bravo, and Echo Alpha, and Romeo Lima Hotel sent in feedback about the use of autopilot on check-rides.  Great perspectives from pilots in the field.  Thank you!  Tango Sierra sent in some audio, too! Part 2: PATRONS Tango Foxtrot and Sierra Mike sent in feedback about SoCal flight following.  Thank you for sharing your stories. Feedback PATRON Delta Mike shared some timely feedback and a story about a great flight instructor. PATRON Kilo Whiskey shared his story about being yelled at by ATC. PATRON Local Mike Bravo has a story about “Opposing Bases” in real life on the same runway. PATRON Charlie Papa is sad about the Fly-I

Episode 120 Show Notes Topic of the show: What are "Opposing Bases"?  Also, PATRON Whiskey Charlie asked about reroute selection, chart usage, and general controller/pilot type of knowledge in the tower.  AG and RH will give our opinions on the disconnect between two sides of the microphone.   Timely Feedback: PATRON Juliet Bravo sent in some local VFR feedback for SoCal area. Supreme Galactic Aviation Commander Charlie Hotel provides some fun facts about practice areas and frequency usage. PATRON Golf Tango sent audio about the land down under! TERPS ELF Romeo Whiskey from Tornado Alley responds to our introduction last week. PATRON Mike Echo Hotel got the latest T shirt! PayPal Supporter Delta Charlie sent in timely feedback about OB117 and flight checks. PATRON and HOST of Aviation NewsTalk podcast, MT sent in some feedback about the use of our show title in traffic calls. #opposingbases  Feedback PATRON Alpha Whiskey sent in a question about a military operation for AG. Bravo Golf sent in some feedbac

Episode 119 Show Notes Show Topic: AG and RH talk about their favorite instructors of all time!  We dig deep into the inbox and get to some more of your awesome questions and feedback!  Happy Monday!  Feedback Romeo Whiskey the “Terps Elf” sent in his confessions. PATRON Juliet Bravo sent in a question about equipment suffixes. Alpha Foxtrot sent audio about practice areas. Charlie Mike sent a quick thank you. Mike Delta asked how to self-announce or get flight following in busy Class B in California. Juliet Mike gives his opinion on too many bells and whistles in the cockpit. Alpha Sierra sent a link to the “Endless Runway”. PATRON Mike Romeo sent a link to a pilot survey. Click here and help him out! Listener comments and questions about this can be sent to atc.facility.tour@gmail.com PATRON MKC Nick sent in a show suggestion. Romeo Whiskey asked about LAANC. PATRON Bravo Sierra tells a story of getting yelled at by ATC. PATRON Delta Papa sent in audio about his favorite instructor. Oscar Yankee got yelle