Radio Knowledge for Drone Pilots - Part 3: Etiquette

[@Aerosnapper]

A very well made conclusion to the series. The reminder that radio use is a last resort is really important. BTW - as an approved examiner, I can tell you that every exam has questions on the phonetic alphabet....

[@DonJoyce]

Thank you very much, Mike! Much appreciated.

[@johndolson8342]

Great job on this series :-) Based on what I was taught during my Private Pilot training, an alternative example might be..."Arnprior area traffic, be advised certified drone pilot Papa Charlie 1234 is conducting drone operations two nautical miles west of the aerodrome at three zero zero ft AGL and below. Any conflicting, please advise. Papa Charlie 1234". Once operations are complete, an announcement indicating operations are complete could be made. Of course, the best thing to do would be to advise Arnprior Unicom of your flight by phone, and let them advise any local traffic. Then once you're done, call Unicom again and let them know. Regardless...if you hear an airplane nearby...land the drone. As you mentioned, it's best to spend a lot of time practicing listening!

[@DonJoyce]

Thanks, John! Good advice.

[@Aerosnapper]

John - perfectly fair, but there's a strong feeling in the aviation community that 'any conflicting traffic etc.." is superfluous. The key ingredient, usually, is to finish with a reminder of the aerodrome involved - to avoid potential confusion, especially when using the en route frequency.

[@johndolson8342]

@@Aerosnapper Good points. I forgot to mention the aerodrome again at the end. Thanks!

[@Aerosnapper]

@@johndolson8342 no worries - none of us is perfect - but we can keep trying, John...

[@shaunthedrone]

Thumbs up ere' Don great 3 part series, very interesting and a great job. Many thanks for sharing the info :)

[@DonJoyce]

Thank you, Shaun!

[@sartolmc]

During a search for a missing person two days ago, an helicopter (not part of the search and rescue crew) flew at max 200 AGL about 0,5 NM from our 3 airborn RPAS. ROC-A cerified, I called on 126,7 to raise awarness about our operations. I didin’t get response but I checked its flight path on Flightradar24 and it was moving away from our vicinity. Two times in my drone pilot career, I established bilateral communication with helicopters and it felt good coordonating with them to avoid any traffic conflict. Important to remember that even being close to an airport doesn’t garanty that you can hear and talk to tower. Ground to Ground commmunication is easily obstructed by obstacles. Call all stations but keep in mind that maybe only the aircrafts will hear the call.

[@DonJoyce]

Wow! Great stories of safe practices...and good tips.

[@GeraldMcFall]

Thank you Don! was waiting to see what the call sign was PCXXXX Good to know! and a GREAT Video, ;-)

[@DonJoyce]

Thanks, Gerald! Glad it was helpful!

[@KevinBacks]

Foxtrot Alpha Romeo Tango! Nice one Don!

[@DonJoyce]

Silly dog, making those sounds!

[@NorthcoastDrone]

Another great video Don. A thought for the drone pilot canada app. when you hit new flight it shows your position relative to the aerodromes so you can make a blind call and it tells you your location from and bearing to the airport or aerodrome. Or is this already there. Once again great video I am working on getting my ROC-A

[@DonJoyce]

Thanks, Alex! Yes, that feature is available via the 'Assess Airspace' function. Even better, should you have a fly away, the Emergency Button provides active phone number buttons and a script (including the distance and direction).

[@hamadcheats]

*_Nice._*

[@DonJoyce]

Thanks, Hamad!

[@adamsroy2702]

great video I know my alfa =bravo Charlrry because I worked at an airport when I was younger and it came in very useful one day so that's why I keep it in mind all the time. I was secretly on the runway at Meribel airport in Montreal Quebec, Canada I love that job

[@alpowell393]

Excellent Series Don, Thank you!

[@DonJoyce]

Thank you, Al! Much appreciated!

[@mountforestaerial]

Well done, Don! 👍 Safe flying!

[@DonJoyce]

Thanks Wellington Drone!

[@VantaBlack-w8t]

TC AIM March 21, 2024 / 3.2.13.1 Types of Altitudes says you should as best practice use ASL over AGL for drone flights.

[@DonJoyce]

Sure, but in an emergency, if you are communicating your drone altitude, you are probably best to state what you know for sure, which is likely the AGL since that will be available to you directly on your console....rather than mess around trying to figure out your own ASL, then adding, then......

[@brucecolman3402]

Many thanks Don, once again you helped me out!

[@DonJoyce]

Thanks, Bruce!

[@feeblenester4470]

Well done ,you should consider getting your PPL

[@DonJoyce]

Thanks!

[@javadsamii1810]

Don, hello and excellent job.

[@DonJoyce]

Thank you, Javad!

[@asteroid42531mckenna]

Good video Don

[@DonJoyce]

Thanks, Martin! Appreciate your watching!

[@MapleGoodness]

Very useful video! Thanks! The examples of how to phrase calls is helpful. And a thanks to you for all of your videos, I believe they helped me prepare for my advanced flight review this morning, passed with flying colors!

[@DonJoyce]

Congratulations on passing your Flight Review, Shawn! Glad my videos helped!

[@TrialRob]

Hello I would like to thank you for your series of videos. Robert /pilot ULL//pilot UAS A2

[@DonJoyce]

Glad they are helpful!

[@TancooMedia]

Thank you Delta Oscar November, you are the man!

[@DonJoyce]

Haha! Thanks!

[@AdventureTravelandScuba]

Hi Don do you use a green screen to have yourself on a different background? Or there is another way.

[@DonJoyce]

Hi Thomas! Yes, I'm green screened. Background was filmed in the fine summer of 2019!

[@AdventureTravelandScuba]

@@DonJoyce Tango Yankee

[@BrantAerials]

FART? Very Nice! LOL

[@DonJoyce]

Lima Oscar Lima! And here I thought it was subtle!

[@BrantAerials]

@@DonJoyce Lima Mike Alpha Oscar!

[@the1andonly]

My dad is a ham radio operator in Germany. I grew up with the "kilo alpha Sierra" stuff, but still don't know them all. Some of this actually came up on my recency quiz. Now I have to get comfortable with it, I guess 🤒

[@DonJoyce]

Cool! If it makes you feel any better, the phonetic alphabet is handy to use on customer service calls when you're complaining about some widget that stopped working...the serial number is...

[@phuthotv2841]

Beautiful my friend Great work!. Wishing everyone good health and success. thumbs up!

[@DonJoyce]

Thanks!

[@TraceyFougere]

Excellent video Don!!!

[@partokompo9754]

Nice content I already hit the red button Stay connected

[@DonJoyce]

Thanks!

[@Twistedmetal-qe8kx]

Excellent video series.

[@DonJoyce]

Thank you! Glad you have found it helpful!