Communication is difficult enough without having to think through and explain absolutely everything we say. In certain professions, however, vague communications can be disastrous or even deadly. The solutions to many of our mistakes, or our friction, is quite simple — if you are unsure, ask questions and verify your information.
I ran across this recently in an aviation forum .. the names have been changed to protect the innocent and the guilty!
A pilot left the airport in Class B airspace with radar following. He requested 12,500′. He was cleared to climb to 4500′ and stay on his course. He complied and continued over the airport. ATC tells him “to resume own navigation”. So he turns to his orignally stated direction and climbs to 12,500′. WRONG! ATC promptly and angrily questioned the pilot’s actions. The pilot responded that he was doing what ATC told him to do. Or what he thought he heard ATC tell him.
He was in violation for “an unauthorized climb through Class B airspace.”
In your opinion, was the pilot mistaken? Was the pilot to blame, or ATC?
It seems “resume own navigation” is the set of ambiguous words here. Does ‘navigation’ include both vertical and horizontal? And are both the pilots and ATC using the same definition? Would restating the approved navigation by ATC have taken too long?
“Resume own navigation” sounds like the pilot is to continue with his intended, pre-stated path. That’s what is sounds like to me.
It wasn’t what ATC said, it’s what the pilot thought he heard.
