Phonetic alphabet 'meanings'

[machineman9]

thanks Rotty... now i know why the ATC doesnt like to respond... because they know im not listening  ;D

it really cleared some terms up, thanks.



Charlie.. so its to get your altimeter reading properly (so couldnt you just set it yourself? or do you need to get told it by the ATC?)

i didnt hear either of those, but i wasnt exactly listening to it too much (had better things on my mind, like flying and in-awing)

but yeh, a few new terms, but i think i get them. QFE is per runway, right?... and QNH is per region on earth?

[C]

Charlie.. so its to get your altimeter reading properly (so couldnt you just set it yourself? or do you need to get told it by the ATC?)

ATC will be able to give it more accurately, as even the most accurate altimeters are +/-50ft. Also, if you were to just set you altimeter to zero without checking the setting, you wouldn't know if it was faulty or not (although of course most aircraft have two independant altimeters, so you notice the error)

i didnt hear either of those, but i wasnt exactly listening to it too much (had better things on my mind, like flying and in-awing)

You probably wouldn't. And as you say, you had better things to think about!

but yeh, a few new terms, but i think i get them. QFE is per runway, right?... and QNH is per region on earth?

QFE is per airfield, as generally there isn't that much difference in elevation of each runway threshold. QNH, essentially is as you say.

[machineman9]

alright then thanks- certainly cleared lots of things up

[C]

alright then thanks- certainly cleared lots of things up

And you're only 14 - I didn't have most of that squared away in my head until I was at least 19, or 20, or 22...


or 26!

[machineman9]

if anyone asks... im actually 78  ;D


naa, actually i just really want a career and a plane... so its best to get it all sorted earlier so its less of a kurfuffle later on.

[Brett_Henderson]

If you're on the ground and KNOW the field elevation you can set the altimeter accordingly.. but if there's an ATIS/AWOS/ASOS available, it's best to use that setting, because every other airplane coming in to land will be using it, too

[C]

If there are two or more controlled airports near each other.. they'll use a limitted set of ATIS letters, so that you don't inadvertantly listen to the wrong one. I.E.  Port Columbus (KCMH) will use Alph-Lima and Ohio State (KOSU) will use Mike-Whiskey. I don't think either uses Zulu, 'cause that would be confusing... you hear "Zulu" with every ATIS when they reference the time.

Good point actually - you wouldn't here an ATIS "zulu" due to possible confusion with "zulu time" (UTC).

As for your other point, I've never seen that over here - mainly because the only ATISs I've ever heard start (and end) with the words:

"(Airfield name), information (letter)".

[The Ruptured Duck]

aah right... so its not like 'with golf' means 'you have 5 tonnes of plastic explodes on board' or anything like that

so its just to keep you updated.

Dear god, I hope thats not the case.  I've used "Golf" a few times before.