Message-ID: <4F4E58CE.3050805@Logan.com>
Date: Wed, 29 Feb 2012 11:56:46 -0500
From: Rob Logan <Rob@Logan.com>
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To: Lancair Mailing List <lml@lancaironline.net>, 
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Subject: Tally-ho, I've got viz sep, N18GG
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There have been many changes in Cleveland Center since I last visited
Oct 31 1996. The first tidbit I'd like to share after my Feb 27 2012
visit is how to respond after identifying previous reported traffic:

Cleveland Center, traffic in sight and I will maintain visual separation
from it, N18GG

Communication is key to safety so the FAA has gotten very picky on exact
phrases.

Line up and wait, N18GG
Hold short of 24, N18GG

A 30+ year pilot several hangers down from me had his license suspended
after the tower pulled the tape and sent it to FSDO over a communication
mixup. Repeat hold short instructions AND your tail number!

So why is the exact phrase:

Cleveland Center, traffic in sight and I will maintain visual separation
from it, N18GG

so important? well on an IFR flight a few years ago I had an experienced
pilot in the left seat of Tweety Bird, doing the sole manipulator thing
while I was enjoying the stunning VMC day watching the ground roll by. I
was jerked awake by "N18GG Say altitude!" and saw we were low, I asked
for the plane back and pulled up quickly making the call level at our
assigned alt. The operational error detection program (OEDP) detected a
loss of separation and printed on a dedicated screen at the
Operations Manager position.  This is the person in charge of the entire
facility on the Air Traffic side, a major big deal.  I took down the
phone number to call when I landed and made some notes for my nasa form.
I got off easy, and controllers also have a nasa like service, when the
"snitch" is triggered but some kind of paperwork must be done for all
loss of separations cases.

A fully worded response to a traffic call lets the controller know you
will accept and maintain visual separation and they can reply with
"approved". If you don't say:

Cleveland Center, traffic in sight and I will maintain visual separation
from it, N18GG

the controller still owns separation for their IFR customers and will
likely move to the other aircraft and hope they know the correct response
and accept separation responsibility.

Tally-ho, I've got viz sep, N18GG

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