Very interesting comparison of IFR (and generally Air Traffic) communications and Ham Nets.
Personally flying VFR and IFR I’ve never heard a controller request “All Aircraft on Frequency Check In”. Of course that is not a expected or trained situation for Pilots or Controllers, as defined in the 7110.65 Controllers handbook and/or the Airman’s Information Manual (AIM).
If there was some malfunction or situation where a Center or busy Approach Control sector had to request “All Aircraft of Frequency Check In” I wonder what would happen and the quantity of comm collisions.
Generally aircraft radio operations seem to be sequenced by takeoffs separated by some distance or time, and transitions between sectors (changing frequencies) are also separated by distance or time. Once on a frequency a pilot should listen for a quiet time to make a request or report in on a new frequency. Otherwise the pilot typically is quiet unless responding to the controller’s transmission.
What is really frustrating is that the AM Air Traffic frequency collisions often cause a painful squeal in the pilot headset. It’s good that repeater collisions don’t produce the squeal.
I’ve heard some Ham nets use geography “all XXX County check in now” or “YYY City check in now”. I like a technique with some sort of initial check-in calls getting organized by sub-groups when collisions become frequent.
Carl
Carl Martin
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