Possible pilot deviation! Update!

Posted by Key-System-1818@reddit | flying | View on Reddit | 66 comments

Well reposting my original post with an update since for some reason my post was not visible at the time I posted it.

This morning I (CFI) departed my home airport to the practice area to practice some maneuvers. Once those were done, I decided to go to a small Delta airport (I don’t know if that airport is a contract tower) to practice landings since usually it’s not busy. I established two way radio communications and was instructed to join and report the midfield downwind for XX runway. After that, ATC told us to follow a traffic that was on the crosswind turning to downwind which we maintained visual at all times. We (I was with my student) didn’t report the midfield and when we were on final ATC called us to let us know that since we didn’t report the downwind it was a possible pilot deviation and gave us a number to call. There was enough separation between both aircraft at all times (when I landed he was already on the crosswind about to turn downwind). After that, we got cleared to the touch and go and departed the airspace. Bear in mind that we were the only two aircraft at the airport with no arrivals and no departures. I kept it cool since there is no reason for me to argue with anyone on a frequency.

Update:

After talking with the Chief Instructor, I called the number with a positive attitude. The person who answered was not the controlled who I talked to on the flight (who apparently is the boss). It was a polite conversation. He told me that even though I had the traffic insight I still had to make that downwind position report. The conversation was a minute and a half long and it ended with me apologizing for any inconvenience caused.

I still plan to file a NASA report within 10 days. I’m still mind blown that I was handed a phone number because of this, but hey we keep learning every day!

Stay safe guys!