Why do pilots say roger

Since the earliest days of aviation, effective communication between ground staff and pilots has been a key component of safe flying of aircraft. Every information the pilot might get or share with the ground staff can be crucial, and it might save the lives of both the aviation personnel and the passengers. Although aviation communication seems to be a very simple thing to do now, it was one of the most complicated things during the early stages of aviation.

Since December 17th, , when the Wright brothers made the first successful flight in history, communication with pilots in the air has been a real challenge. Visual aids like colored paddles, signal flares, and hand signs were used at the beginning as means of communication.

However, the first air-to-ground radio communication used Morse code and operators used short signals in order to save time. For whatever reason, we then go through our career or hobby of flying and hardly ever use that word. And we seldom hear it spoken by ATC! Let me give you a recent example. En-route, the C pilot advised ATC that the aircraft just blew a tire. The pilot requested to exit the aircraft to inspect the wheel. The tower cleared the C as requested.

Can you see the Runway Incursion scenario developing? The C pilot came back on the frequency stating he had a wheel come apart. The Tower asked his intentions, and the C pilot said if he moved the aircraft it would do damage and requested to go to an FBO. Getting to the FBO from the damaged C would require a runway crossing.

The Tower then observed two men on foot walking towards the runway. The tower called the C several times with no response. The Tower, after observing the men crossing the actual runway told the inbound C to go around and enter right traffic for Runway 1, later changing clearance to land on Runway 5.

Fortunately, the pilot of the C executed a proper go-around and landed safely on another runway. The distress call for life-threatening emergencies, such as complete engine failure. Pilots must stay it three times at the start of a radio call.

This means a particular aircraft appliance is broken but is not needed for safe flight — such as the coffee maker. Originating from the French word panne , meaning a breakdown. Squawk: To squawk is to set your transponder a device for receiving a radio signal so that your location can be identified on a radar. It means: received the message and will comply. This article originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced with permission. The airline is bringing its brand new cabins into the 21st century - adding a feature that will finally fix one of the most annoying things about flying.