Stuck Mic

for all you jet jockey's, don't forget that not every airplane is IFR from wheels up to wheels down...

Some of us need to make an initial call to ATC in the air... And when the frequency is busy, all they want to hear is " So-and-so approach, N1234." They will respond when their workload permits, so you can spill your life story and requests at that point. With that in mind, when you make a first call after being given a freqnuency change, it's a good idea to give the controller some clue that you were handed off... "checking in" or "with you" works fine (so that your not confused with an inital call, since that wastes even more time). I can tell you from my own experience... When you check in with "Orlando Approach, N1234, 8,000" it always endes up being a wild witch hunt for them to figure out that you were handed off, but when you add "with you" it narrows it down a bit.

Now with all that being said... If you're checking in with "United 1234" you are obviously IFR, and were were obviously handed off, so drop the extra BS.

Here's a tip I haven't heard mentioned.. When you are given a frequency change, and it is within the SAME FACILITY, you DO NOT have to report your current altitude again. That step is only for verification during the radar contact stage on your first call for each facility. For example, if you are talking to Orlando approach, and they say contact Orlando Approach on 119.4. You can check in with just your callsign. However, if you are climbing or descending, it's a good idea to repeat the altitude that you were assigned... For example "Orlando approach, N1234 with you, climbing to eight thousand."

This is coming from someone who minored in ATC in college, so I know a little bit about the subject