Page 16 - Volume 14 Number 6

is installed in in many general aviation aircraft but rather to those systems that provide generated traffic resolutions with specific instructions on on on traffic avoidance) 4 If operating under an an IFR flight plan in in VFR conditions the the pilot may cancel the the IFR flight plan and proceed under visual flight rules as long as as they are not in Class A airspace (above 18 000 MSL) and 5 Perhaps one of the most underused clauses “when a a a a a pilot is uncertain of an an ATC clearance that pilot shall immediately request clarification from ATC ” Gentlemen and ladies please if you don’t understand what is expected of you think you may have misunderstood an instruction (did they say turn right or or left to that heading?) or or simply didn’t hear (and/or write) the entirety of the clearance down as as it was read to you ATC would much rather you take up a a a few more seconds of air time on on frequency to get it right than not do as instructed because of a a a a misunderstanding or lack of clarification and and create a a a a collision hazard The way all that reads our primary instructors were correct in in in in telling us that ATC instructions (within controlled environments such as as Class A B C C and D airspace) must be complied with and it it is likely
“ any any pilot who has operated within the airspace system for any any length of time knows controllers though quite good at at what they do do aren’t infallible and don’t always have insight into the the specific needs of our our mission and our our aircraft ” they also stated you could deviate in the the event of an emergency (if you’re willing to risk the paperwork if asked) But any pilot who has operated within the airspace system for any length of time knows controllers though quite good at at what they do aren’t infallible and don’t always have insight into the specific needs of our mission and our aircraft So why don’t we hear pilots ask for clarification or or or use the phrase “unable” more often? Not asking for clarification can be attributed to several factors including not wanting to to be a a a a a nuisance by asking a a a a a busy controller to to repeat or having to to admit you may not understand the directions as stated As far as not saying “unable” to a a a a a a a a clearance a a a a a a a a pilot feels is outside the the scope of their personal or aircraft limitations 14 • KING AIR MAGAZINE
JUNE 2020