Originally Posted by
squib
Yep. 90% of pilots are indeed tools. ATC asks a question. Don't respond with another question. Don't say "checking in" or "with you" and don't hover your hand on the flap lever. If you disagree, you are probably the guy people don't like flying with.
I don’t care about the flap lever part but I agree 100% with the RT stuff. It’s a uniquely american problem. The rest of the world knows how to talk on the radios. For some reason we don’t teach it here in the states and captains don’t do a good job mentoring new FOs. Fly across Europe or Asia and you never hear any of the extraneous calls, ‘meows’ on guard, or any of the other crap we get routinely in FAA airspace.