90% of Private Pilot Air Traffic Control in One Flight | ATC Basics

Talking to Air Traffic Control (ATC) can be an intimidating part of becoming a pilot, but it doesn't have to be scary if you know what to expect. In this one flight I wanted to demonstrate the vast majority of what kinds of ATC encounters you'll have as a VFR private pilot. Really it comes down to knowing what to expect and communicating clearly, and most transmissions just involve saying who you are, where you are, and what you would like to do. I hope this flight helps boost your confidence level talking to ATC and also shows you that if you mess up (like I did), it's still going to be okay!

I hope this video encourages you in your aviation journey!

Video chapters:
0:00 - Air Traffic Control is Easier Than You Think
0:30 - Our Demonstration Flight
0:45 - ATIS Weather
1:38 - VFR Flight Following (From the Ground)
2:20 - Taxi Instructions
3:15 - VFR Flight Following Instructions
3:52 - Towered Airport Departure
4:44 - Regional Departure + Class B
7:15 - Approaching Non-Towered Airport
8:30 - Landing & Taxi Back Non-Towered Airport
9:16 - Departing Non-Towered Airport
10:06 - En Route
10:56 - Preparing for Arrival
11:34 - Crossing Over Non-Towered Airport
11:58 - Contacting Regional Approach
12:49 - My Mistake
13:28 - Handing Off to Tower
14:03 - Landing Towered Airport
15:00 - Ground Control
15:10 - Tips from an Air Traffic Controller

[nea]

The problems isn't talking to tower. The problem is repeating what tower said.

[Shacklelord_]

I just passed my Private Pilot check-ride today! Your videos have done a lot for me while learning, and played a big part in inspiring me to get started. Thanks for all your hard work, I wouldn’t be here without you!

[breadave]

I’m a rusty returning pilot. I have always found ATC communications to be just about the most challenging aspect of flying. Thank you for your very insightful video. Found it extremely helpful!

[AirSafetyInstitute]

Great video, Charlie! Thanks for taking us along for the ride.

One quick tip: at 9:10 you say that you're "clear of the active". At non-towered airports, all runways are potentially active.

Cheers!

[eduardodepaula]

Great video! Very helpful. I’m an experienced airline pilot in Brazil and been trying to learn more about flying in the United States. It seems like is much more complex than flying around here.

[terrylynnbayon]

I wish Foreflight would have an option that we could connect our earphones thru our iPads running Foreflight and that every atc communication would come up “closed captioned” so we could read it back and mistakes would be minimal!

[patriciagriffin]

That was a perfect landing! I can’t fly anymore due to a severe skiing injury and so LOVE living vicariously through you as I watch you up there. You bring back wonderful memories (I tried to be a compulsively safe pilot too) I love that you are having fun. Thank you!

[RoshanKofler]

Following you actually from Chile - South America... Compliments for your professional content.

[MozNugz]

just had my discovery flight and I'm hooked! signing up for my PPL! ATC chatter seems difficult but you make it look easy! thanks for the awesome content

[stevenburris]

This is great. It's all about confidence. The way you handle the communications and anticipate what's coming is something I aspire to.

[niksniks]

Just started working on my PPL, and the ATC communications gets me so nervous!! This video was super helpful and I juts subscribed!

[Sven_protector]

Charlie, this is without doubt my favorite video of yours. It was easily the most practically helpful; I loved the style and pace; and I appreciated how honest you are with how the flight and radio calls go. Thank you sir.

[gregworthington]

Another great video Charlie.
I’m a member of a flying club in a suburb of Cincinnati. We had a controller from Columbus ATC come in for a talk awhile back. He said they (ATC) would always prefer to be talking to us, even on a short flight. That way they know what we are doing and not just a blip on their radar screens. And, they can call out traffic.

[LawrenceBroussard]

I did part of my IFR in Fort Worth just to get comfortable with having to talk to someone all the time. I got to admit I never got comfortable writing all the information down, but that was a few years ago. I sure miss flying. Thanks for making this vlog.

[lefthandedfenceguy]

I like working the pattern at KINJ. It's usually pretty peaceful. Glad to see you been in the neighborhood.

[kentd]

Thanks, Charlie! From my experience instructing, your humility and honest mistakes are great for students (and all pilots).
Fly safe.

[mikev]

Charlie, another great video!! You touched on many great points. Don’t worry about the wrong atis - I get it 20 times a day and more often times from airline pilots :) keep up the great work

[CirrusSRPilot]

Da-yu-m Charlie. I fly around the SFRA and Class B of Washington DC (Potomac Tracon) and I thought our area was busy. I was sweating watching this video!! Great job and Fantastic Video!! Thanks!

[Huber]

Addison controllers are awesome. I had the pleasure of visiting their tower just the other day with some students and we had a blast. They're super understanding of the student traffic, and they were even asking us if they could do anything to improve their communication with the pilots. Great video!

[JamieHigdon]

So happy I found your channel! I'm a student pilot in TN and about to do my solo to Class D airport so these are so freakin helpful! You explain everything perfectly, great instructor! I fly out of a non towered airport so ATC is still a bit intimidating for this old brain to catch everything, but I'm getting it! Thanks! God bless!