Guys,

There are times when "by the book" operations just can't happen due to the nature of the circumstances. I think the 99% of piltos out there try to do their best when they fly to remain standard.

But when you're flying the fifth leg of the day and can't remember the ATIS ID, you sometimes may have to get by with "We have the info." After all- it might be the 7th or 8th ATIS that you've copied.

Same thing goes for busy frequencies. If I had a dollar for every time I read back an abbreviated clearance at Ohare, I could at least by a few steak dinners. How about when ground control is so busy that you can't even get a readback in? It happens- are you going to sit there and wait to readback? (All the while holding up the works, until eventually ground yells at you or loses you in the shuffle?)

Hell- I can think of at least 5 times when I've cleared a runway at ORD (Usually 4 right), and tower tells us "Join delta, contact ground." When we flip to ground, they're so busy that we make it all the way to the gate without ever talking to anybody except for ramp control. It happens (and more often than you think).

Per the AIM, you're supposed to stop at the other side of the hold line, and wait for ground. If you did that at ORD, you'd probably end up sending somebody around, not to mention getting reamed.

Relax. Most folks are standard, but there are times when due to whatever reason, something that isn't exactly as the AIM recommends slips out.

As for foreign pilots and their situational awareness, when other countries start controlling 100% in English, then I'll worry more about their ability to understand what I'm saying. Fly up to Quebec and you'll understand what I mean.