USMCFLYR

Not only is it not standard civilian terminology, but obviously this person didn't even kow how to correctly use the term in a *military* sense.
Unfortunate circumstance.
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Pilot Plays Game of Chance
Notice Number: NOTC3964

Proper terminology is our topic for today. In this case, we discuss use of the term BINGO FUEL by a pilot. As you know, BINGO is a game of chance, and pilots in flight should not be taking chances! As you might expect, the word BINGO is not found in the Pilot/Controller Glossary.

It is also military slang for the minimum fuel required for a comfortable and safe return to base. To clarify, even if the controller had understood the pilot’s use of "BINGO FUEL" in the following example, the phrase does not indicate an emergency fuel condition, and the controller would not have changed his instructions. The expectation would be a normal landing that does not require emergency handling.

Recently a pilot used that term while approaching to land at an airport. One can only imagine that the pilot had watched too many old flying movies. In this instance, there was a Runway Incursion and a Pilot Deviation, which will most likely result in an enforcement action (or Remedial Training) by the FAA.

The C-210 landed on the active runway after being told to go around (twice) by the Tower due to insufficient separation from the preceding aircraft, a C-172 executing a previously approved stop and go maneuver. The Tower issued both go around instructions prior to the C-210 crossing the Runway threshold.

The C-210 landed on the runway after announcing “BINGO FUEL.” Noting that the C-210 was not going around, the Tower told the C-172 to start an immediate take-off roll prior to the C-210 landing. Aggressive braking by the C-210 pilot led to the aircraft making a 180-degree turn on the runway resulting in a blown right main gear tire. Closest proximity to the preceding aircraft reported by the Tower was 300 feet.

To repeat, BINGO FUEL is not standard phraseology and pilots should not use the term. In addition, in this case, the pilot did not declare an emergency (which would have helped the controller to understand the circumstances) and after landing locked both wheels while braking to avoid the preceding aircraft. Furthermore, the pilot landed after the Tower instructed him to go around.

Please remember to avoid slang while communicating; it only leads to confusion and in the case above, could have resulted in a collision on the runway with potentially dire results.

Furthermore, don’t be afraid of the “E” word – Emergency. Even if paperwork is required after landing (and it typically is not), that’s less expensive than the blown tire, as in this case, or the potential damage caused by a collision.

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USMCFLYR

HSLD

Is that E for emergency fuel, or the ICAO standard phrase "Mayday" fuel (or "Pan")?

Point is, the FAA's P/CG is full of non-ICAO phrases. To use the phrase "Emergency" outside of the US could have the same result as using the phrase Bingo. Why is it that the FAA uses some ICAO phrases, such as "line up and wait", and not others?

The point of the article is a good one; make sure that the controller knows what you're talking about!

USMCFLYR

I think we played with our own ball for a long time and are just now coming to realize that other kids in the neighborhood have *balls* too.
I think we will see more and more 'sameness' coming down the pike.

USMCFLYR

HSLD

That's a good thing, the reason I mention it is that we had a crew in Asia that declared an emergency and didn't get special handling because the controller didn't recognize the phrase. Lesson: always know the rules when you're flying in someone else's home-drome.

Hawker Driver

It reminds me of a funny quiery an upset and wry German controller made to a C5-A crew that was headed toward a penalty box: " State your autonomy, and don't lie!"

AKASHA

"Bingo Fuel" is not slang. It is aviation terminology. Although the term in not intended for use between pilots and controllers, it isn't slang. Slang is something different.

Also, declaring an emergency is fine. But the pilot/controller glossary also gives the option of declaring "Minimum Fuel" to indicate that any further delay may result in a critical fuel situation.

USMCFLYR

It is a military comm brevity term and can be, and is, used between military aircraft and military controllers. I agree that the term is not slang, but this article is specifically pointing out a situation which occurred on the civilian side of the line; and as pointed out - used incorrectly by this pilot.

USMCFLYR

StartUp161WanaB

That's a good thing, the reason I mention it is that we had a crew in Asia that declared an emergency and didn't get special handling because the controller didn't recognize the phrase.

Lesson: always know the rules/TERMINOLOGY when you're flying in someone else's home-drome.




Good point here. In the USA, we used the terms "go-around and/or go missed" when unable to make a normal landing. Other parts of the world do not recognize these terms. Instead, they are familiar with the phrase "aborting the takeoff"{brazil is of those countries}.

StartUp161WanaB

sorry ,,trying to delete the post.

BFMthisA10

Actually, military controllers would be just as unfamiliar with the term as their civilian counterparts. Sitting SOF, I would often field quizzical looks from the controllers asking "*** did he just say?"

I think you're confusing controllers with C2 agencies. CRC, AWACS, DASC, ASOC, though often pressed into blurry grey areas in certain A/O's, are not controllers. But they will typically understand and operate using brevity comm (albeit to a proficiency level that makes them equal parts dangerous and frustrating ). [not talking to you USMCFLYR, just trying to keep the discussion on point]

I had the unique opportunity to go from military aviation (Nav) to a civil school (university flight program) and back home to MilAv. I found that I had to be careful in the civil world of keying the mic and spouting what came naturally. Terms like RTB and tally would generate derision from my CFI's, even if the controllers didn't skip a beat. I would have never imagined throwing a "Bingo" out on the radio. UFB.