In article <2510…@hplvec.LVLD.HP.COM> sc…@hplvec.LVLD.HP.COM

 (Scott Turner) writes:

>I think it’s up to all pilots to speak and understand aviation.  Seems
>to me that it’s up to both instrument *and* non-instrument pilots to
>understand at least a bit about the other’s environment.  The first step
>towards peaceful co-existance is just about always some level of mutual
>understanding.  BTW, I applaud the FNL Users Group for taking a postive
>approach (pun not intended in this regard.

Let me attempt to summarize the problem here:  IFR approach position reports
need to be interpreted by VFR pilots in the pattern.  There are two suggested
solutions:  IFR pilots should speak VFR, or VFR pilots should understand IFR.

Contributors over the years have yearned for "VFR-style" position reports, and
the topic recently reappeared.  Scott has weighed in with an opinion that
solution 2 is equally important, and mentions that "it’s up to all pilots to
speak and understand aviation."

Scott, I agree with you in principle, but I think there’s one more piece of
data which is missing here.  In the so-called "real world", uncontrolled
patterns tend to be filled with student pilots.  While there is certainly a
responsibility on the part of students, CFI’s, and VFR pilots to understand
basic position reports, I would argue that we IFR pilots are simply better-
equipped to hold up our end of the bargain – to make VFR-style reports.

This is not written to be any sort of derision of student or non-IFR pilots,
it’s simply an observation that -in general-, the IFR pilot is more trained
and more experienced, and is thus in a better position to go "the extra step"
toward improving safety.  Please, all you 2,000 hour VFR-onlys out there,
don’t take this personally.  I’m not worried about you, and anyway let’s face
it, there are far more 25 hour students out there (especially IN the pattern).

Therefore, while I encourage CFI’s to teach their students a little bit about
-all- areas of aviation, I implore all IFR pilots to provide simple, accurate,
and UNDERSTANDABLE position reports, at all times.

Remember, the 152 in the pattern may easily be a 20-hour student on his/her
first unsupervised solo.  Maybe their instructor DID teach them about ILS’s.
Am I the only one who remembers that state of slightly exhilerating panic
at that stage in my flying career?  I was certainly in no shape to be trying
to interpret VOR Inbound position reports….  Barely knew what a VOR was at
the time….

–Andy     stad…@apple.com