Keying the mic in response to ATC

[alfadog]

Do you ever just key the mic in response to something from a controller? Under what circumstances? Do you just key it once?

The thread on Wilco reminded me of this. The old timer CFI I did my complex with would sometimes do it but I never worked out what were his criteria and never got around to asking.

 

[Jim Logajan]

If your position is that it conveys no meaning then I'd ask why people do it and how on earth does everyone know the meaning. You might not agree with it and site the AIM but there is no way to argue it conveys no meaning. This thread is proof positive it does.

I can find no examples in this thread where keying the mic in response to ATC accomplishes anything that not responding at all would accomplish. Ergo it seems void of useful information. At least to me. Definitely not something worth my time to acquire as a habit.

Bull, it conveys plenty of information.

About the only time I use it with ATC is the short final wind check, but on CTAF the double clicks are rather common.

The FAA requires a basic understanding of English - no mention of understanding keying of mics.

I'm a bit baffled by these persistent claims about various radio uses being either "common knowledge" or "bad practice." Whether it is "with you" or "Any traffic in the pattern, please advise," or whatever.

 

[Jim Logajan]

Wilco.

Don't you mean F.A.B.?

 

[Jim Logajan]

Do you ever just key the mic in response to something from a controller? Under what circumstances? Do you just key it once?

Belated note to everyone, but it appears to be a technical violation of FCC regulations to key the mic because every transmission must contain the station identification.

For aircraft stations, these are the identification rules, which should look familiar (from http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-id...8&view=text&node=47:5.0.1.1.2.3.95.11&idno=47):

Title 47: Telecommunication
PART 87—AVIATION SERVICES
Subpart C—Operating Requirements and Procedures
§ 87.107 Station identification.

(a) Aircraft station. Identify by one of the following means1) Aircraft radio station call sign.
(2) The type of aircraft followed by the characters of the registration marking (“N” number) of the aircraft, omitting the prefix letter “N.” When communication is initiated by a ground station, an aircraft station may use the type of aircraft followed by the last three characters of the registration marking. Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, an aircraft being moved by maintenance personnel from one location in an airport to another location in that airport may be identified by a station identification consisting of the name of the company owning or operating the aircraft, followed by the word “Maintenance” and additional alphanumeric characters of the licensee's choosing.
(3) The FAA assigned radiotelephony designator of the aircraft operating organization followed by the flight identification number.
(4) An aircraft identification approved by the FAA for use by aircraft stations participating in an organized flying activity of short duration.
EDIT:
Someone will point out that the above doesn't actually say every transmission must contain a station ID; the correct FCC reg for that is this rule:

Title 47: Telecommunication
PART 2—FREQUENCY ALLOCATIONS AND RADIO TREATY MATTERS; GENERAL RULES AND REGULATIONS
Subpart D—Call Signs and Other Forms of Identifying Radio Transmissions
§ 2.301 Station identification requirement.

Each station using radio frequencies shall identify its transmissions according to the procedures prescribed by the rules governing the class of station to which it belongs with a view to the elimination of harmful interference and the general enforcement of applicable radio treaties, conventions, regulations, arrangements, and agreements in force, and the enforcement of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, and the Commission's rules.