Somewhere out there

“Vegreville traffic. FDNV is nine miles North of the field at 4500 feet, passing over the airport, southwest bound for Camrose”. This was the only other radio transmission made on the Vegreville frequency (122.8), during my most recent flight. Although the call was slightly muffled, I picked up the general message.

In order to keep traffic separation, and assure the other pilot that no mid-air collision would be imminent, I announced my own position in reply, 

“GWMM is two miles southwest of Vegreville at three thousand, one hundred…”. 

Although we were ten miles and a thousand feet apart, I wanted to ensure we maintained separation, especially as FDNV was heading in my direction. 

Having been surprised by NORDO (no radio) aircraft in the past, it is amazing at how fast a dot on the horizon can grow into a full sized aircraft on your windscreen, when two planes converge on a location, with no prior communication.

As time elapsed I continued to diligently scan the horizon, looking for a speck that would be somewhere above me in the sky. Two more garbled transmissions had me just unsure enough to alter my route away from any risk of collision.

Clarity in aviation mimics clarity in life. 

As most people can’t read minds, communicate clearly to eliminate uncertainty. 

Announce your intent frequently and with purpose, and ask for a ‘read back’ to add certainty.

 “GWMM copies, and reads you five by five”.

• Now that’s a peak ethos.