Probably the most irritating of all radio calls occurs when a pilot comes on the frequency, reports his location, and says, "Any traffic in the area please advise," or, "Any traffic in the area report your location and intentions." When I hear this radio call, I immediately picture a pilot who has not been monitoring the frequency and now wants other pilots to do his work for him. Fortunately most pilots ignore these calls and give their radio reports at the published places. If we all responded to these obnoxious calls, the unicom frequencies would be even more jammed than they are on busy days. Unfortunately the pilots asking other pilots to report their location seem to think they are ensuring that they know where everyone else is. Some airplanes at small airports don't have radios. Pilots landing here are sometimes angry that someone in the pattern did not make radio calls and seem amazed to learn that not all planes have radios.
Ralph Rogers
Via the Internet
A License To Kill Yourself
When I was 15, I flew into Grand Island, Nebraska, where I was given my first "instrument rating." It was a light blue card with two holes in it. The instructions read, "Hold card to sky. If color of sky matches card, fly IFR." That was 33 years ago, but I remember it clearly.
As a former Air Force and Navy instructor pilot, SimuFlite instructor, and current CFII and airline pilot, I find the article on an eight-day instrument rating disturbing. The rating is one which permits you to legally kill yourself and I would not want to fly with someone who obtained the rating in such a short time.
While rote memorization and repetitious maneuvers may be enough to pass a checkride, it's hardly enough to develop the necessary judgment to become a competent IFR pilot. If anything, earning the instrument rating should emphasize when not to fly.
Remember there are only three categories of pilots: experienced, inexperienced, and statistics. The only way to become experienced is to avoid becoming a statistic. I fear this type of cram training may lead to more statistics.
Mark Danielson
Via the Internet
Dedication Is A Two-Way Street
I couldn't agree more with H.J. Villalobos's comments about student preparation in his letter "Meet your instructor halfway" (Flight Forum, August 2000). However, in spite of my best preparation for each lesson, I was always made to feel as if the FBO was doing me a service by allowing me to plunk down my money. I never once felt that there was sincere interest in my getting a certificate.
If I missed a week or two of training, no inquiry was made to see if there was a problem or I was out of town. I tried to keep my CFI informed of my plans, and he did the same for me; however, the FBO could not have cared less. The chief instructor never approached me to ask if there were problems or if he could assist me. Except for my CFI filling in my performance record, I don't think my training folder was ever touched.
If I were running the FBO, I would follow the progress of all students and make inquiries when a student seemed to be stymied. I would want to graduate students who would go out and encourage others to learn to fly - at my FBO.
I want to sense the same zealous feelings about flight training from the FBO that I show toward learning the wonderful art of flying. I have met my instructor more than halfway, and I expect no less from the other direction.
Robert R. Rotruck
Sarasota, Florida
