Morse Code
 

How many of you have memorized the Morse code? I'm just curious if it just kinda sticks in your head after years of flying. It would make it much easier and convenient to check nav ID's. I am going to try to learn it, but it seems like it's gonna be tough. Is it common for pilots to know it by heart?

14+ years and I still look at the plate. SOS is the only one(s) I have memorized.

Ditto on what Slice said.

Although I can't think of the last time I identified a navaid using morse... the glass cockpit in my aircraft will do it for me and display the ID after "listening".

Been using morse for a while in ham radio... IDing navaids is child's play...

A guy I know almost got unsat on an FAA ride because he didn't verify the morse with his plates after IDing. The guy had a military telecom background and knew it cold, but it apparently took a little convincing to get the check pilot to believe.

Yep, that happens! Almost busted my CFII ride because of that. Went back to the examiner's office and he quizzed me on some random identifiers after the flight, by tapping them out on his desk. Needless to say, he thought it was so neat that he picked up ham, and we chat every now and then via CW on the radio.

Sort of as a follow up question...in this day and age, when weather, morse codes and even flight service can be broadcast over the VOR frequency, why is a VOR still ID'd using morse code? Wouldn't it be much simpler to have it broadcast "XYZ VOR" as opposed to the code?
-MJ

I remember growin up when my dad was working towards a flying job. He did HAM radio as well. He actualy made me listen with him and asked if I could hear any letters. I remembered a lot of it. ._ (A) _. (N) .. (I) . (T) ._._(C) etc... Trying to tap out SOS TITANIC on my desk in 3rd Grade. maybe I have forgotten some of them.

I know that G is _ _ ., F is .. _ ., and K is _ . _ What do I win?

My CFI always gave me crap about just listening to the NAVAID ID. Didn't matter that I learned the code when I was 16, circa 19[mumble]. Honestly, though, I didn't know what it was he expected I do to identify the station. Point at each letter as it was transmitted? *Whatever*!

I worked hard to gain an ear for 20wpm and always love to hear the CW on the airwaves. My hat's off to those old Navy boys bugging along at 40+. Sadly, morse is no longer a requirement for *any* FCC amateur license.

In any case, cool way to bring someone into the ranks of ham radio!