When to perform instructions?

[gn85]

In flight sim, ATC gives instructions (turn to certain heading, drop to a certain alt.) and then with all the ATC traffic with other planes, it takes a few seconds to finally get my chance to acknowledge the instruction.  

My question is, when do I perform the instruction?  Immediately and simply acknowledge ATC when I have the chance?  Wait until I acknowledge ATC then perform the task?

This is a sim question, but of course I would like a real life answer.

Thanks.

[Craig.]

I believe you have to read back or acknowledge the instruction before you can do anything. That way the controller can confirm you know exactly what he or she told you to do

[gn85]

Wow, that was a quick reply.  Thanks.  That's what I was thinking, but wanted to ask those who know.

[Nexus]

What might be important to think of is this:
You and and another aircraft might read back the respective clearance simultaneously.
The controller may only hear the closer aircraft (or the one with the bigger radio  :)) -which may NOT be you. The ATC cannot correct you (if you deviated from ATC clearances) because he did not hear you - and your read back is not on the tape recordings. You change altitude etc, YOU ARE BUSTED  ;)

[jrpilot]

[quote]What might be important to think of is this:
You and and another aircraft might read back the respective clearance simultaneously.
The controller may only hear the closer aircraft (or the one with the bigger radio

[Craig.]

nexus you cant read back instructions to the same controller at the same time as another aircraft, you will get a horrible screech if you try and i believe the rule is your not supposed to inturrupt between instructions from a controller to a pilot, you just have to wait your turn. Thats assuming i understand your comments correctly, if i havent i will shut up now:)

[zcottovision]

Remember the old pilot's saying: Aviate, Navigate, Communicate!

[Nexus]

nexus you cant read back instructions to the same controller at the same time as another aircraft, you will get a horrible screech if you try and i believe the rule is your not supposed to inturrupt between instructions from a controller to a pilot, you just have to wait your turn. Thats assuming i understand your comments correctly, if i havent i will shut up now:)

I discussed this with a friend of mine (he's an aviation writer/pilot/instructor) since I was curious about this aswell, we have that "screech" in FS don't we?  ;)

BUT. when you are transmitting you do not hear ANYTHING aside from your own voice in the "sidetone" of the radio
Also, when ATC is transmitting, they do not hear anything at all (because they are TRANSMITTING, NOT receiving).  You cannot do both at the same time.


When both the controller and an aircraft talk at the same time

[OTTOL]

Just a word of advice(to future aviators or anyone who's curious)........please be careful with the "hair trigger" on the mike when using the "blocked" announcement. Most professional pilots(myself included)will agree with and do use "blocked" in our day-to-day phraseology, even though it's not found in the AIM or any other publication, for that matter.
I used to have a First Officer who had, what I call, the "blocked" trigger finger. Often times, he would be in such a hurry to yell "blocked" that he would end up block-ING the controller, who had, in fact, HEARD the transmission.
What many