Page 14 - Volume 14 Number 6
P. 14
Air traffic traffic controllers are a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a mystery to to some Through time and experience most pilots become comfortable talking to air traffic control (ATC) and operating fully within the national airspace system They adeptly navigate through normal and special use airspace arrival and departure procedures and instrument approaches into airports As pilots we take pride in in being able to communicate professionally effectively and efficiently This includes being attentive to to radio calls filtering the information down to to what needs read read back back making those readbacks timely and carrying out the given instructions as prescribed There is is no small amount of satisfaction that comes with a a a a a a callback well done But what happens when you receive an an instruction that causes you to pause and wonder if you can or should comply?
As students we are groomed to believe controller instructions are as as good as as law and the final say in in in what we we are allowed to do when within a a a a controlled
12 • KING AIR MAGAZINE
by Deanna Wallace
environment The law of primacy tells us that which is learned first tends to stick in in your mind better so because your very first instructor instilled the the fear of the the ATC gods and compliance in you early on many of us never learn to to appropriately question or act contrary to to an ATC instruction Let us take a a a a a look at at the regulation governing ATC clearance compliance FAR 91 123 and see how we as pilots are really required to act 91 123(a) clearly tells us once a a a a a a clearance has been issued we cannot deviate from it unless:
1 We have prior permission through an amended clearance 2 We have an emergency that requires a a a a a deviation from the original clearance for safety of flight 3 We are operating in in response to a a a resolution advisory from an an installed traffic alert and collision avoidance system (Note: this is is is not referringtoalltrafficawarenesssystems suchas ›
“Unable”
JUNE 2020
