Videos
For over 20 years, Richard Collins has been a contributor to Sporty’s Pilot Shop’s video training programs. Here, we present some of his most popular videos, with tips on everything from night flying to better preflights.
To purchase any of these individual videos, or the full set of Air Facts videos, visit Sporty’s Pilot Shop.
9 Comments
I am a VFR pilot, but whenever I’ve flown into/out of a controlled environment I have been treated very well. Since I am not super-used to listening to them I sometimes have to ask them to talk slower so I can comprehend what they want me to do — I’m not pre-programmed as to exactly what they will throw at me. Their “landmarks” may not be something that is readly apparent either, especially when out of my usual haunts. Thanks Guys & Gals!
I am a IFR pilot, and I agree with Mr. White, the air traffic control people talk way too fast for a private pilot not in his home envrioment.
They are programmed to talk to air carriers. We have no solution except to learn how to listen and understand what they are saying. One help is to study your route in advance so you can be ready for the revisions.
A hint; always file a flight plan and talk to these people, they are really there to help you. I ALWAYS filed IFR even if the weather was VFR. When you do this you get used to the system and are increasing your safety and that of others. Before you think it, no I am not a controller or airline pilot. I did spend 49 years in aerospace and have flown the U.S. and Canada on business.
ATC should use standard ATC phraseology. I fly an hear a lot of non standard verbiage.
Dick Collins are like a lot of us, a has been…….find a new writer.
To call Dick Collins a “has been” shows what an idiot you are!
Dick Collins is one of the most respected real-world aviation writers around.
Agree with Charlie White that it helps to “go slow to go fast”. I can catch and comprehend relatively simple instructions that include perhaps up to 2 or 3 distinct items w/ a low probabilty of error. As the number of items in a stacato radio burst increase my ability to retain the information in temporary memory goes down… Sort of a FIFO problem (First in, first out… of memory, that is). We have a tower controler at my home airport who likes to get the entire ATIS done in 5 seconds or less. This means I have to listen to it about four times before I can reliably have all of the information… especially when I’m listening on my number 2 radio and there’s other traffic on my number 1. A bit slower, and no problem. Clarity is not talking as fast as the lips will flap!
The man who wrote “Dick Collins are like a lot of us a has been… Find a new writer” should
Go back to school. Dick Collins IS like a lot of us etc.,etc. When he knows as much about flying
As Collins he can have an opinion worth listening to.
Bob, of course you have a right to that opinion. Elsewhere in this virtual rag I think Mr. Collins calls himself an old coot. If it really bothers you, you do not have to visit this website at all. Since you gave yours I’ll chime in too: today, Dick’s writing, regardless of the writing quality ( which I always find easily readable – what more do you need?) is backed, i wager, by more flying experience in general aviation aircraft than you me and five other normal guys put together. I find benefit in Dick’s experience every time I read one of his articles. If he’s repetitive, that’s ok – I forget more and more these days! If he’s having an off day, that’s ok too, you can still see that wealth of experience shining through. And I might remind you, like good players of the game of Go, Dick’s experience is multigenerational – Mr. Leighton Collins was no slouch writer/aviator either. His Dad’s contributions heighten Dick’s value to our community even more.
–signed, Jim, former Air Facts Magazine (the only magazine issued with the correct size to fit properly in the mailbox) subscriber, unabashed Dick Collins fan, and firm believer that respect is vital to our cultural excellence.
It’s good to know that US natives have problems understanding ATC… I’m French, quite fluent in English, but training IFR around Miami was not easy at all !!!
My tip is to talk to them very slowly, most of the time, they answer the same way. It works.