Fall, 2011
CSULB
PSEUDO-PILOT
TRAINING MANUAL
BY : MEGHANN HERRON
Table of Contents Introduction………………………………………………………………………………........ 4 Communication………………………………………………………………………………… 5 Phonetic Alphabet……………………………………………………………………………. 6 Traffic Conventions……………………………………………………………………….. 7-10 Departures……………………………………………………………………………………….. 11 Crossing Restrictions…….…………………………………………………………………… 12 Pilot Responses to ATC ………………………………………………………….……. 13-15 Sector Diagram ………….……………………………………………………………..….16-17 MACS Interface………………………………………………………………………….……….18 Aircraft List …………………………………………………………………………....19-20 Radio Frequencies ……………………………………………………………………….21 Control Display Unit …………………………………………………………………….22 Mode Control Panel ………………………………………………………………….…23 Flight Management System …………………………………………………………24 Pilot Function Display ………………………………………………………………….25 Multiple Aircraft Position …………………………………………………………….26 Aircraft State Display …………………………………………………………………..27 2
Skills Test …………………………………………………………………………………………..28 Appendix A (Compass Rose)………………………………………………………………....29 Appendix B (Blank Questionnaire “Do You Know?”)……………………………..……30-32 Appendix C (LiveATC.net) ………………………………………………………….…. 33-34 Appendix D (Raters Sheet) …………………………………………………….……… 35-36 Appendix E (Pseudopilot Protocol))…………………………………………………… 37-38 Appendix F (Award Sample) ………………………………………………………………..39 “Do You Know?” Questionnaire (With Answers)…………………………………. 40-42
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Introduction Welcome to the Center for Human Factors in Advance Aeronautics Technologies Pseudo-pilot Training Manual. In this manual you will find useful tips to help assist you in training students how to become a pseudo-pilot. The role of a pseudopilot is to create a high fidelity environment for the Air Traffic Controller (ATC). The pseudo- pilot parrots the ATC and then executes the commands in MACS. Therefore, the pseudo-pilot is responsible for flying multiple aircrafts at a single time using MACS software. They must also impersonate multiple pilots throughout the duration of a simulation.
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Communications
ATC’s HAVE Precedence- Always give them the mic, their calls are more important than yours
Initiating Communication When you initiate a communication you need to tell ATC: Who you are addressing (e.g.“Indianapolis Center”) Who you are (e.g. “UPS 123”) Where you are (e.g. “Flight Level 340)
Receiving Communication When you receive clearance or directions from ATC, you must repeat it back in the order it was said. Example: Center – “UPS1320, Indy Center, descend and maintain flight level 340.” Pseudo-pilot – “UPS1320, descending and maintaining flight level 340.”
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Phonetic Alphabet The phonetic alphabet can be used anytime there is confusion regarding the pronunciation of a navigation fix or word Alpha
Bravo
Charlie
Delta
Echo
Foxtrot
Golf
Hotel
India
Juliet
Kilo
Lima
Mike
November
Oscar
Papa
Quebec
Romeo
Sierra
Tango
Uniform
Victor
Whiskey
X-Ray
Yankee
Zulu
Military or Private Aircraft are called using the phonetic alphabet For example: ďƒ˜ You would call this N5245 aircraft in as: November five, two, four, five
*********** Commercial Airlines are called in as ************* SWA 1949 - Southwest nineteen forty-nine AAL250 – American two fifty
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Traffic Conventions
Altitudes: Below 10,000ft are pronounced as: 5,000 = Five Thousand 3,000 = Three Thousand 3,500 = Three Thousand Five hundred Above 10,000ft and below 18,000ft are pronounced by using the first two digits with "thousand" 13,000 = One three thousand 14,500 = One four thousand five hundred At or Above 18,000 are called flight levels 25,000 = Flight level Two Five Zero 35,000 = Flight level Three Five Zero
Headings: Headings are given and read back with direction of turn and pronounced using all three digits. Example: Center:
“UPS 123, Indy Center, turn right, heading Three Four Five.�
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Pseudo-pilot: “UPS 123, right, to Three Four Five.” Headings are usually given in two formats: 1. Direct heading 2. Degree change Turning Left x degrees subtract x degrees from current heading. o For example: if current heading is at 180 degrees, then turning left 10 degrees would equal a heading of 170. Turning Right x degrees add x degrees from current heading. o For example: if current heading is at 180 degrees, then turning right 10 degrees would equal a heading of 190.
See Appendix A, for a larger version of the compass rose
Figure above is a compass rose: A compass rose is a device used to display the orientation of the cardinal directions — North, East, South and West - and their intermediate points. It is also the term for the graduated markings found on the traditional magnetic compass. Today, the idea of a compass rose is found on, or featured in, almost all navigation systems, including nautical charts, nondirectional beacons (NDB), VHF omnidirectional range (VOR) systems, global-positioning systems (GPS), and similar equipment and devices. 8
Vectors: A “Vector” is a heading given to the pilot by the controller with a specific purpose in mind. Some examples: vectors around traffic, or a vector to a specific fix, or a vector to avoid terrain. They can be requested by the pilot or assigned by the controller. For example: Pseudo-pilot:
“Center, UPS 123, can we get a vector to Seabiscuit (CBSKT)?”
Center:
“UPS 123, Indy Center, turn right, heading Three Four Five, vectors to CBSKT.”
Pseudo-pilot:
“UPS 123, right, to Three Four Five.”
Frequency Change (ATC initiates): Center:
“UPS 123, contact Indy Center on 120.77”
Pseudo-pilot:
“UPS 123, 120.77”
Frequencies should be called in as single digits Example: Contact Center 128.1 --> Contact Center one two eight point one. Initial check-in (Pseudo-pilot initiates): Pseudo-pilot: “Indy Center, UPS 123 with you at Flight Level 320.”
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Confirm lead aircraft: If you have been reassigned a new lead by Center and there is some confusion: Pseudo-pilot:
Center:
“Indianapolis, UPS 123. Confirm our lead aircraft is UPS 456.”
“UPS 123, that is affirmative. Your lead is UPS 456.”
Loss of datalink: Pseudo-pilot:
“Indy Center, UPS 123. Our datalink is inop.”
Center:
“Roger, UPS 123, understand you are unable to datalink at this time.”
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Departures When an aircraft is departing it will be ascending. Therefore, the aircraft will be climbing through your airspace. It is necessary to call these departures in if it is an IFR aircraft, noting your current altitude and your assigned altitude in conjunction with your transition. Sample:
Indy Center, this is ___(Aircraft)____climbing out of _________ to flight level 320 with a (Pocket City or Centralia) transition. PXV= Pocket City , ENL= Centralia
Template: Indy Center _(call sign)_ climbing out of _(low alt “climbing”)_for_(high alt “assigned”)_ with a (waypoint) transition.
Example: “Indy center American 2488 climbing out of one - one thousand for three two zero with a Pocket City transition.” There are two typical transitions: PXV = Pocket City ENL = Centralia
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Crossing Restrictions Crossing restrictions are given by the Air Traffic Controller. It is typically a restriction that requires the pseudo-pilot to attend to the designated aircraft for a future task. A typical crossing restriction can be given when a Louisville arrival is crossing Zarda.
Example:
AAL2488 cross Zarda at FL 360 descend and maintain FL 240
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Pilot Responses to ATC At the beginning of a scenario: At the first sight of traffic
Traffic initiated.
Checking in an AC
Indy Center, this is ___(Aircraft)____with you at _____(FL #)___. Indy Center, ___(Aircraft)____at _____(FL #)___.
Change in Altitude
Aircraft descending Flight level
Aircraft Climbing Flight Level
Aircraft expediting climb 360
Aircraft expediting descent 360
Expediting
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Other Responses: To Altitude change
Climbing and maintaining flight level _____(FL #)___, ___(Aircraft)____.
Expediting (climb or descent) to _____(FL #)___, ___(Aircraft)____.
Descending and maintaining flight level _____(FL #)___, ___(Aircraft)____.
Descending _____(FL #)___, ___(Aircraft)____. Changing Frequency
Switching to (128.1) or (119.87), ___(Aircraft)____.
Contacting Center 128.1, ___(Aircraft)____.
128.1, ___(Aircraft)____.
If you are unclear about a transmission
Repeat last transmission, please.
Repeat last, please.
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Heading Change
ATC: Turn (right or left) heading __(Heading #)___, ___(Aircraft)____.
Turn (right or left) heading __(Heading #)___, vectoring for traffic, ___(Aircraft)____.
Proceed direct __(Phonetic Alphabet)___, resume Own navigation, ___(Aircraft)____.
Resume Own navigation, ___(Aircraft)____.
Traffic CALL
Traffic insight, ___(Aircraft)____.
Speed Increase
We will increase speed to
(Aircraft) increasing speed (Speed # )__ knots.
(Speed #)
knots, ___ (Aircraft) ____.
Sector 90/91
When an ATC calls Sector 90/91
Respond by “Sector 90 go ahead”
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Sector Diagram Below you will find an image of ZID 91 and the typical traffic routes, frequencies, and sector handoffs.
ZID 91 sector boundary
Overflight
Overflights that switch to frequency 128.1 and should be handed off to sector 90
Airports
Indianapolis International (IND) aircraft that switch to frequency 119.87 and should be handed off to sector 17. IND is an airport that these aircraft will be landing at.
Standiford Fld (SDF) Louisville arrivals aircraft that switch to frequency 119.87 and should be handed off to sector 17. SDF is an airport that these aircraft will be landing at. 16
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MACS Interface
 This is the MACS pseudo-pilot interface that is used to operate the aircraft. Below you will find specific details regarding the various controls. Each control has been parsed out to describe each controls’ functions.
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Aircraft List
1 – To Do list 2- Control list 3- AC list
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The aircraft list displays three separate list boxes. o
The To Do List (the far left list box) alerts you when a handoff is accepted by the pseudo-pilot, when an aircraft receives a datalink communication, and when the altitude is not changed it will display “FL” instead of “HI”.
o
The Control List (middle list box) displays all the aircraft currently in your control.
o
The All Aircraft List (the far right list box) displays all aircraft within the scenario.
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Radio Frequencies
The control button switches between 3 different states: Steal – to take control Control – already in possession Return – when the ATC switches frequencies (90 or 17) 21
Control Display Unit
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Mode Control Panel
The Mode Control Panel (MCP) displays the speed, heading, and altitude of an aircraft. Within these various boxes, you can control these settings. o
The “set” button displays a selection of preset numbers.
Speed-The speed can be in two different states Mach or Knots. The default speed is on Mach. To state indicated airspeed in Knots you would unclick Mach and click on speed select (SPD SEL). Heading- When turning left or right the buttons on the side can be used to turn the aircraft. However, if you are given a specific heading you can type that heading into the box in the middle. Also, if given resume own navigation click the LNAV button and the aircraft will resume their originally assigned flight path. Altitude- To expedite the altitude, the altitude must first be changed. Click the “V/S” button. The set button will activate, where you can expedite (climb or descend) the altitude.
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Flight Management System
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Pilot Function Display
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Multiple Aircraft Position
The MAP indicates your aircrafts current position as well as the position of other aircrafts around you.
Current Heading ď‚Ż The solid purple line indicates your current flight path while the dotted purple equals your original (filed) flight path.
Next Waypoint ď‚Ż
Indicates your next waypoints (intersections in the sky that serve as a road map) 26
Aircraft State
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Skills Test 1. Change an aircraft’s speed through the MCP. 2. Change an aircraft’s heading/track through the MCP. 3. Change an aircraft’s flight level through the MCP 4.Call in aircraft 5. Call in Frequency 6. Say current speed mach 7. Say current speed in knots
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Appendix A
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Appendix B
Do you know? 1. What to do when you receive an incorrect frequency change?
2. What to do when the aircraft is flashing the wrong sector?
3. What to do when an aircraft is no longer on 133.15 and the ATC’s ask’s “are you on my frequency or with me”?
4. When you receive a data link for an IFR aircraft?
5. Do you know how to call this aircraft in N5245
6. When you receive multiple commands for more than one aircraft how do you execute the call back?
7. Where is Zarda? (please draw a graphical representation) 30
8. Each ring designates ________ NM.
9. How many NM from the boarder is it acceptable to give a handoff?
10. Who gets priority on the mic?
11. When does an ascending aircraft change into a flight level?
12. How do you call in an aircraft flying at 12000ft?
13. How do you respond to a traffic call?
14. Do you know what to do when there are multiple data links in the datalink display?
15. How do you manually handoff an aircraft?
16. What are three ways to know if your aircraft is doing what you need it to do?
17. What do you if an ATC call 91-90 handoff/point out?
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18. What frequency do ALL DATALINKS default to?
19. How do you call “TINGS� using the phonetic alphabet?
20. How do you differentiate which aircraft are switching to 119.87 or 128.1? (Three different methods, list all the different methods)
21. If you are calling in an aircraft and the ATC starts a transmission what should you do?
22. If you receive an datalink for an AFR aircraft that is going to SDF. What steps should you execute?
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Appendix C Found at: http://www.ehow.com/how_5283857_listen-traffic-control-internet-liveatcnet.html
How to Listen to Air Traffic Control on the Internet with LiveATC.net LiveATC.net is a web site designed to re-broadcast communications between Air Traffic Control and aircraft. If you are a pilot who wants to learn how to be a better communicator or are an aviation enthusiast, this web site is for you. The site is supported by volunteer monitors who live within radio range of airports and who use their scanners and computers to relay transmissions into the LiveATC.net audio network.
1 Point your browser to http://www.liveatc.net/ to open the home page. If you want to listen to a particular airport, type the designator in the "Find feeds (by airport)" box. Otherwise, you can use the links in the left column to browse all the feeds in a area, search on a map or go to the most popular feeds.
2
Once you find the feed you want,, you can listen to it in Winamp, iTunes, Real Player, Windows Media Player or in your browser. Choose how you want to listen and the audio should start up in your chosen tool. Depending on the time of day and
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amount of traffic, it might be a little while before any transmissions are made on the frequency. Don't assume a feed is down just because it is quiet.
3 If you are new to listening to air traffic communications, you will probably have some difficulty interpreting what you are hearing. A good reference is the Pilot/Controller Glossary which can be found at http://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/media/pcg.pdf.
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LiveATC.net also provides a large collection of archived feeds. You can listen to a particular date and time or you can also browse through the collection of interesting exchanges if you are a registered member of the LiveATC Forums. It is free to register so go ahead. You will find some very good recordings in the archives and forums. If you want to hear the US Airways Flight 1529 landing in the Hudson, this is where you would go.
Read more: How to Listen to Air Traffic Control on the Internet with LiveATC.net | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_5283857_listen-traffic-control-internet-liveatcnet.html#ixzz1WYicljv8
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Appendix D
ATC & Trainer Raters: Pseudo-pilot: Multiple Commands o Correct call back o Correct execution of commands
Clarity o o
Can you understand them (are they speaking clearly?) Are they speaking calm and collective (no “uhhh” or long pauses in the middle of a call)
Efficiency o How fast they call back o How fast they respond to data links
Arrivals o o o
Remember to descend for landing Know what sector it gets handed off to Know what frequency it goes to
Departures o Call in departures correctly o Are they able to distinguish between AFR & IFR aircraft especially --- SDF, IND Datalinks to the correct frequency Hand-offs & Frequency changes o Can they execute a manual handoff? o Did they accept the hand-off appropriately (20-30nm from boarder)? o Did they catch and fix hand-off to wrong sector? o Did they catch incorrect frequency changes?
Awareness o Do they know the last transmission that the ATC called o Did they complete all of the steps necessary to execute a Datalink- (load accept execute) o Are they responding to non-existent aircraft? (AAL222 are you with me?) o Are they responding to aircraft that has already switched frequency? o Are they remembering to descend aircraft to stated altitude (240) when given a crossing restriction? (at the appropriate time) Understanding o Do they know what is going on? o Do they understand the ATC’s commands? o Understanding the impact of their actions (especially for the datalink)
How many repeats do they ask for: 1
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2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Are they giving priority to the ATC on the radio?
Overall score _______
Comments: Performance Scale
1
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2
Poor- Definitely need to work on this Moderate
3
Average
4
Good
5
Excellent
Appendix E Pseudopilot Protocol
Frequencies o 133.15 is the Indianapolis Center (sector 91) frequency o 128.10 is the handoff frequency for non-arrival AC leaving sector 91 o 119.87 is the handoff frequency for SDF & IND arrivals o If ATC switches you to an incorrect frequency: Verbally: Repeat back to ATC that you will switch to the incorrect frequency, then wait a couple seconds and say back to ATC “The other frequency didn’t want me.” ATC should then give the correct frequency verbally Datalink: Right click the airplane symbol, then quickly type “91” and right-click the airplane symbol again to send the AC back to that sector’s frequency Arrivals (SDF & IND) should flash 17 on Ghost ATC Non-arrivals should flash 90 on Ghost ATC
Handoffs & Frequency Changes Handoff: ATC releasing control of the AC Frequency Change: Verbal (or datalink) command to switch the AC radio frequency o The ghost station is responsible for accepting handoffs 1. AC need to be right-clicked to accept the handoff once they are within 30NM of leaving the sector and the data tag is flashing o Arrivals (those going to SDF & IND) will be handed off earlier in the sector o If ATC says something like: “Center, requesting handoff eastbound BTA3322” that indicates to you that you need to accept the handoff (right click the AC on the ghost station) in order for the ATC to give the frequency change. o All datalink handoffs default to 128.1 therefore you must remember to descend for landing all arrival aircraft (SDF & IND) and switch to 119.87
Flight Level (FL) Change o o
When making a FL change, make sure to check that Vertical Speed (V/S) is changing o If it is not changing, check V/S and max up or down Departures won’t descend without selecting V/S and “max down”
If ATC says something like “Proceed direct CHERI,” use the FMS dropdown menu to choose the appropriate waypoint.
If a datalink does not execute, press the “EXEC” on the CDU window
Reminders
Remember to say “Traffic initiated” into the headset when traffic appears on Ghost ATC Steal ALL AC before they come into the sector, including datalink Call in AC only once ATC has accepted them (when they become hollow on Ghost ATC) Double check to make sure that commands are executing 37
Respond to datalink messages ASAP Repeat back to ATC as quickly as possible (while executing or before executing a command) ATC always has the verbal right of way—DO NOT talk over ATC Speed must be entered manually even for datalink commands IF the ATC gives you a frequency change before issuing a hand-off then we treat it like an incorrect frequency. So you respond by accepting the frequency change and then waiting 10 seconds and then calling backing the ATC and saying that the next sector is not ready to receive your aircraft. If an ATC call only partial call- signs then we do not respond. There is a strict 30 nm hand-off rule. If you notice that the ATC hands off the aircraft early then accept the hand- off and hand it back to sector 91. If ATC gives a hand-off before 30nm’s before the sector boarder accept hand-off and give it back to them by typing 91 and right clicking on the ac. If ATC calls “sector 90-91” respond to them by saying, “sector 90 go-ahead”
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Appendix F Award Sample:
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Do you know?
(a blank version for a handout is located Appendix B)
1. What to do when you receive an incorrect frequency change? Repeat the call back, wait 20 seconds and then call back in and say that they will not accept me on that frequency (but repeat the incorrect frequency during your transmission) 2. What to do when the aircraft is flashing the wrong sector? Accept the hand-off and then hand it back off to 90
3. What to do when an aircraft is no longer on 133.15 and the ATC’s ask’s “are you on my frequency or with me”? Ignore their call 4. When you receive a data link for an IFR aircraft? Ignore the data link
5. Do you know how to call this aircraft in N5245 November five, two, four, five
6. When you receive multiple commands for more than one aircraft how do you execute the call back? Answer the most recent. However, it is very important that you call back immediately before executing the commands as well as calling in each aircraft back in separately (un-key each time you start a transmission for a different aircraft).
7. Where is Zarda? (please draw a graphical representation)
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8. Each ring designates ___10___ NM.
9. How many NM from the boarder is it acceptable to give a handoff? 20NM or two rings 10. Who gets priority on the mic? The ATC
11. When does an ascending aircraft change into a flight level? 18000ft
12. How do you call in an aircraft flying at 12000ft? One two thousand 13. How do you respond to a traffic call? Formally and always with the call sign of the aircraft
14. Do you know what to do when there are multiple data links in the datalink display? Nothing because they should timed out and therefore you do not execute the commands 15. How do you manually handoff an aircraft? Type 90space enter on the aircraft 16. What are three ways to know if your aircraft is doing what you need it to do? MAP, AC State, PFD, MCP
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17. What do you if an ATC call 91-90 handoff/point out? Find the aircraft that they are referring to on your scope and type 91 space right click the appropriate aircraft.
18. What frequency do ALL DATALINKS default to? 128.1
19. How do you call “TINGS� using the phonetic alphabet? Tango, India, November, Golf, Sierra 20. How do you differentiate which aircraft are switching to 119.87 or 128.1? (Three different methods, list all the different methods) SDF = 119.87 IND= 119.87 Everything else 128.1
21. If you are calling in an aircraft and the ATC starts a transmission what should you do? Stop your transmission 22. If you receive a datalink for an AFR aircraft that is going to SDF. What steps should you execute? Click- 119.87 and click - descend for landing
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