The answer is in AC 90-66C (revised in 2023): Pilots should only use the correct airport name, as identified in appropriate aeronautical publications, when self-announcing or exchanging traffic information toreduce the risk of confusion. For example, when landing at Midwest National Airport (KGPH), state, “Midwest National Traffic” as stated on the VFR aeronautical chart and as found in the Airport’s Supplemental Chart information. Do not use the town’s name “Mosby Traffic” or “Clay County Traffic.”
Every pilot flying should know the sectional name of their airport. I know locals around me use the town name and a different local airport is "proper noun, town name airport" but just gets called town name airport. My take is that you never know how locals refer to it, but it is their responsibility to know the sectional name so if you use that your doing the right thing.
KMVY is officially named Martha's Vineyard Airport. It's located in Vineyard Haven. If you said "Vineyard Haven", no one will no what you're talking about.
KBED is officially named Laurence G Hanscom Field. Boston Approach refers to it as Bedford. Tower controllers say Hanscom. The airport is physically located in three localities - Bedford, Lincoln, Concord - so which of the three would your friend use?
KPNE is Northeast Philadelphia Airport, or Philly Northeast as everyone calls it. Will your friend call it Philly? How about KLOM (Wings Field), also in Philadelphia? Are then (and KPHL) all one big happy Philly Airport?
Though there's a lot to be said for local knowledge. KBOS is named Edward Lawrence Logan, but everyone calls it Boston. KMHT is named Manchester Boston Regional Airport, but everyone calls it Manchester.
You're right, however, I think there are cases where normal practice would be the city rather than the airport.
Not saying it's right, but it's not unheard of.
For example, I fly near Tuskegee a lot and I hear more "Tuskegee traffic" than "Moton Field Traffic" (06A)
KSCD is another one, no one says "Merkel Field Sylacauga Traffic", rather "Sylacauga Traffic"
I worked and did training at KMSL & KDCU growing up and both of those used the city more than the airport.
for KMSL it's pretty rare to hear "Northwest Alabama Regional Traffic" most people say "Muscle Shoals traffic" or "Shoals Traffic"
Then for KDCU, I did hear both, but more often I heard "Decatur traffic" than "Pryor Field Traffic"
In addition to having mutiple airports per city, you could also have the issue of locals calling it by the name of the city or neighborhood it is said to be in, even though it may be technically in a differently city, e.g. EET is technically Alabaster, but in any practical manner it is in Calera. If I am on the radio making calls for Calera traffic, how is a transient supposed to know we’re at the same airport?
I think the book answer is use the official name as on the chart, but this can have some challenges in practice.
I’ve recently been to the following airports, none of which pilots or anyone else call by their official names in practice— including those with towers:
Fernando Luis Ribas Dominicci (TJIG, aka “Isla Grande”)
Benjamín Rivera Noriega (TJCP, aka “Culebra”)
José Aponte De la Torre (TJRV, aka “Ceiba”)
Luis Muñoz Marín (TJSJ, aka “San Juan”)
Augustus George (TUPA, aka “Anegada”)
Cyril E King (TIST, aka “St Thomas”)
Terrance B. Lettsome (TUPJ, aka “Beef Island”)
In practice, pilots, ATC, and the general public call the above airports by the informal names (denoted by “aka” above).
I’d not really thought of it until now; I suppose it’s mainly due to simple efficiency (less syllables/radio traffic), but possibly also local/regional customs or unfamiliarity with the longer names.
Patience would likely wear out if one were to start using the official airport names in radio calls to San Juan or Isla Grande towers, or even on the CTAF at others. Not to mention potential confusion among other pilots on a CTAF.
If you stated the "city" where I live, you'd be very confusing as there are a dozen or more airports around my "city". You ALWAYS use the airport so that people know where you are.
How the Fuck did he get hired if he doesn't even know this? This is PPL stuff.
Use the airport name. The reason is there could be multiple airports in the city. Example, KMDD is Midland Airpark, however, we called it Airpark. Odessa airport is just called Schlemeyer, 7T7 is called SkyWest. All of these are in Midland, TX where there is also Midland International (KMAF)
Nope, he's full of crap. The city of Fresno has two airports, somehow. For one you actually say "Fresno," the city they're in. For the other, you say "Chandler," the name of the airport.
Another example: My home airport of Whiteman (WHP) is in the city of Los Angeles but in the neighborhood of Pacoima. I strongly doubt most people know any of that, they just say "Whiteman traffic" when the tower is closed.
Last example: Brown Field (SDM) is in Chula Vista, but when the tower is closed everyone says "Brown," not "Chula Vista."
However, I try to monitor CTAF as far out as possible and listen to what the locals say. I'll never forget after making all my position calls and landing some person coming on the radio and icily announce "it's Lahm-poke." I'd been saying "Lahm-pock."
I think the examples that you gave are solid. Gray areas do exist tho. Are you going to say "Northeast Wyoming traffic" or "Gillette"? "Southeast Colorado traffic" or "Lamar"?
I used the name of the airport, as printed on the chart. I assumed that's why it was there. If other pilots can't figure that out, well, that's kind on them?
This is a copy of the original post body for posterity:
I sit right seat for a pipeline operation. Our route extends hundreds of miles and we fly near small airports a lot. I handle all communications and typical right seat duties, but occasionally the left seat pilot will stay ahead of the plane and make calls while I make reports and look for traffic. We got into a huge argument in flight about whether you say the name of the airport or the city it’s in when making position calls. Usually the name of the airport is the city it’s in but not always.
I asked why he said the city in the CTAF call and not the name of the airport we are flying near. His argument is because they’re not going to know the name of the airport (other pilots) but they will know the city, and that’s what we are over right now is the city. I said sure but we are giving calls for the airport nearby so really it’s for that airport and they should know the name of it. We went back and forth for 2 hours and I even pulled out the AIM 4-1-9 where it says airport multiple times. He said no this is how real world flying is. Mentioning that the CFIs that trained me are wrong. I’m also a CFI and he’s not but he has 500 more hours than me that are real world and not a training environment.
Nonetheless he aggressively pointed out that I’m 100% wrong. I even tried compromising that I don’t think he’s wrong but I don’t think I’m wrong either. But he still said no you are wrong and this is why. And proceeded to explain again what I mentioned above. So let me know. Do you call out the airport name specifically you are flying near, or do you say the city name where you are flying at, or either?
Celebration_Dapper@reddit
The answer is in AC 90-66C (revised in 2023): Pilots should only use the correct airport name, as identified in appropriate aeronautical publications, when self-announcing or exchanging traffic information toreduce the risk of confusion. For example, when landing at Midwest National Airport (KGPH), state, “Midwest National Traffic” as stated on the VFR aeronautical chart and as found in the Airport’s Supplemental Chart information. Do not use the town’s name “Mosby Traffic” or “Clay County Traffic.”
https://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Advisory_Circular/AC_90-66C.pdf
Plus_Goose3824@reddit
Every pilot flying should know the sectional name of their airport. I know locals around me use the town name and a different local airport is "proper noun, town name airport" but just gets called town name airport. My take is that you never know how locals refer to it, but it is their responsibility to know the sectional name so if you use that your doing the right thing.
CluelessPilot1971@reddit
KMVY is officially named Martha's Vineyard Airport. It's located in Vineyard Haven. If you said "Vineyard Haven", no one will no what you're talking about.
KBED is officially named Laurence G Hanscom Field. Boston Approach refers to it as Bedford. Tower controllers say Hanscom. The airport is physically located in three localities - Bedford, Lincoln, Concord - so which of the three would your friend use?
KPNE is Northeast Philadelphia Airport, or Philly Northeast as everyone calls it. Will your friend call it Philly? How about KLOM (Wings Field), also in Philadelphia? Are then (and KPHL) all one big happy Philly Airport?
Though there's a lot to be said for local knowledge. KBOS is named Edward Lawrence Logan, but everyone calls it Boston. KMHT is named Manchester Boston Regional Airport, but everyone calls it Manchester.
OrionX3@reddit
You're right, however, I think there are cases where normal practice would be the city rather than the airport.
Not saying it's right, but it's not unheard of.
For example, I fly near Tuskegee a lot and I hear more "Tuskegee traffic" than "Moton Field Traffic" (06A)
KSCD is another one, no one says "Merkel Field Sylacauga Traffic", rather "Sylacauga Traffic"
I worked and did training at KMSL & KDCU growing up and both of those used the city more than the airport.
for KMSL it's pretty rare to hear "Northwest Alabama Regional Traffic" most people say "Muscle Shoals traffic" or "Shoals Traffic"
Then for KDCU, I did hear both, but more often I heard "Decatur traffic" than "Pryor Field Traffic"
choreboynrose@reddit
This dude in the left seat got hired and I can’t even get an interview 🙃🔫. Always the name of the airport!
carl-swagan@reddit
It’s pipeline, I don’t think you’re missing out on anything good lol.
bamaham93@reddit
In addition to having mutiple airports per city, you could also have the issue of locals calling it by the name of the city or neighborhood it is said to be in, even though it may be technically in a differently city, e.g. EET is technically Alabaster, but in any practical manner it is in Calera. If I am on the radio making calls for Calera traffic, how is a transient supposed to know we’re at the same airport?
GayRonSwanson@reddit
I think the book answer is use the official name as on the chart, but this can have some challenges in practice.
I’ve recently been to the following airports, none of which pilots or anyone else call by their official names in practice— including those with towers:
In practice, pilots, ATC, and the general public call the above airports by the informal names (denoted by “aka” above).
I’d not really thought of it until now; I suppose it’s mainly due to simple efficiency (less syllables/radio traffic), but possibly also local/regional customs or unfamiliarity with the longer names.
Patience would likely wear out if one were to start using the official airport names in radio calls to San Juan or Isla Grande towers, or even on the CTAF at others. Not to mention potential confusion among other pilots on a CTAF.
Icy_Huckleberry_8049@reddit
If you stated the "city" where I live, you'd be very confusing as there are a dozen or more airports around my "city". You ALWAYS use the airport so that people know where you are.
How the Fuck did he get hired if he doesn't even know this? This is PPL stuff.
will-fly-for-food@reddit
Use the airport name. The reason is there could be multiple airports in the city. Example, KMDD is Midland Airpark, however, we called it Airpark. Odessa airport is just called Schlemeyer, 7T7 is called SkyWest. All of these are in Midland, TX where there is also Midland International (KMAF)
TalkAboutPopMayhem@reddit
Nope, he's full of crap. The city of Fresno has two airports, somehow. For one you actually say "Fresno," the city they're in. For the other, you say "Chandler," the name of the airport.
Another example: My home airport of Whiteman (WHP) is in the city of Los Angeles but in the neighborhood of Pacoima. I strongly doubt most people know any of that, they just say "Whiteman traffic" when the tower is closed.
Last example: Brown Field (SDM) is in Chula Vista, but when the tower is closed everyone says "Brown," not "Chula Vista."
However, I try to monitor CTAF as far out as possible and listen to what the locals say. I'll never forget after making all my position calls and landing some person coming on the radio and icily announce "it's Lahm-poke." I'd been saying "Lahm-pock."
omalley4n@reddit
I think the examples that you gave are solid. Gray areas do exist tho. Are you going to say "Northeast Wyoming traffic" or "Gillette"? "Southeast Colorado traffic" or "Lamar"?
grumpycfi@reddit
I used the name of the airport, as printed on the chart. I assumed that's why it was there. If other pilots can't figure that out, well, that's kind on them?
rFlyingTower@reddit
This is a copy of the original post body for posterity:
I sit right seat for a pipeline operation. Our route extends hundreds of miles and we fly near small airports a lot. I handle all communications and typical right seat duties, but occasionally the left seat pilot will stay ahead of the plane and make calls while I make reports and look for traffic. We got into a huge argument in flight about whether you say the name of the airport or the city it’s in when making position calls. Usually the name of the airport is the city it’s in but not always.
I asked why he said the city in the CTAF call and not the name of the airport we are flying near. His argument is because they’re not going to know the name of the airport (other pilots) but they will know the city, and that’s what we are over right now is the city. I said sure but we are giving calls for the airport nearby so really it’s for that airport and they should know the name of it. We went back and forth for 2 hours and I even pulled out the AIM 4-1-9 where it says airport multiple times. He said no this is how real world flying is. Mentioning that the CFIs that trained me are wrong. I’m also a CFI and he’s not but he has 500 more hours than me that are real world and not a training environment.
Nonetheless he aggressively pointed out that I’m 100% wrong. I even tried compromising that I don’t think he’s wrong but I don’t think I’m wrong either. But he still said no you are wrong and this is why. And proceeded to explain again what I mentioned above. So let me know. Do you call out the airport name specifically you are flying near, or do you say the city name where you are flying at, or either?
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