The use of similar call signs by aircraft operating in the same area and especially on the same RTF frequency often causes potential and actual flight safety incidents. This hazard is usually referred to as “call sign confusion”.

Read more: Callsign Confusion

Aviation English Asia Ltd encourages explicit training to develop listening skills and habits. One skill that is practiced in classes is active listening. Active listening allows a method of mitigating safety risks in air-ground and ground-ground communication. It requires that the listener fully concentrate, understand, respond and then remember what is being said. Some active listening training tips are provided below.

Active Listening Tips

• When you listen - then LISTEN. Do not listen in parallel with performing concurrent tasks.
• Do not accept phone calls in the middle of a task that you can not interrupt.
• Always use standard phraseology when passing a clearance. In this way, you reduce the chance of the clearance being misunderstood.
• If in doubt, there is no doubt - CHECK.
• Listen carefully to read-back and correct any error. When error is detected, insist on a further read-back. Although a routine activity, this activity should not be shared with other tasks, particularly interruptions such as other R/T or phone calls.
• If, even after a correct read-back, you suspect that a flight has not properly understood a clearance, extra vigilance may prevent a misunderstanding developing into a dangerous situation. Concentrate on this aircraft before doing other tasks.
• Do not accept an incomplete read-back. Do query unclear or incomplete transmissions, especially if you suspect they may have been blocked. This will also indicate to the pilot or other party that they have not been clear and may have an error in their perception.
• Use reflective habits for processing information. One good habit it to ‘Write what you say As You Speak and Read what you hear As You Listen’ - WAYSRAYL. Consult the strips when receiving and annotate the strips during transmission.
• Record the clearance given.
• Use headsets.
• Use intercom/telephone for coordination.
• Listen before you speak - pause before transmission.
• Know your expectations - try to tell yourself, when you communicate, what you expect. This will both increase your performance and reduce the chance of expectation bias.

Where to practice the above active listening skills

Aviation English Asia Ltd offer classes throughout the week suitable for pilots and ATCOs.  For more information visit http://aviationenglish.com/english-for-pilots-and-atcos/aviation-english-for-pilots-and-atcos to see the range of courses available.

This article explains the cause and effects of simultaneous transmissions, and some potential solutions to limit their impact.

Definition

Simultaneous radio transmissions (SiT) are described as:

“Situations arise when two or more radio transmissions occur, simultaneously, on the same frequency. In this context ‘simultaneous’ is defined as two or more transmissions that overlap in such a way that the controller is not aware that more than one transmission has occurred leading to a potential safety hazard.”
(Air Traffic Management (ATM) system operational and technical requirements, EUROCAE, 2009-02)

Description

Simultaneous transmission by two stations result in one of the two (or both) transmissions being blocked and unheard by the other stations (or being heard as a buzzing sound or as a squeal). With the steady growth of air traffic worldwide there is a corresponding increase in the incidence of blocked or simultaneous transmissions. These frequently result in dangerous situations developing, especially when they go undetected.

Sources

• Properties of the receiver to eliminate the weaker signal
• “Best Signal Selection” (BSS) filters-out only one signal
• Cross-coupled frequencies 

Signal overlap

As signals overlap, the system is naturally making a selection on the type of overlap, the relative strength of the signals, the frequency variation, distance between transmitters and receivers, use of one or multiple ground receivers.

 

Lost Signal/Overlap and Detection Mechanisms

• Garbled - Signals are of equivalent strength and they are both transmitted with (detected) garbling. The phenomenon is most probably detected as the garbling is heard by the ATCO.
• Partial Overlap - The weaker signal is not totally covered by the stronger one. This could lead to acoustic differentiation (also called “clipping”) and, in some cases, detection of the phenomenon depending on how much longer the weaker signal is in regard to the stronger one.
• Full Overlap - The stronger signal totally covers the weaker one. Although both signal are transmitted, physical laws cause the receiver to eliminate the weaker signal leading to only one signal being transmitted to (or received by) the ATCO. Although some garbling may be heard in these circumstances depending on the type of RT equipment/architecture, no (or little) detection can be expected.

Scenarios

Several scenarios have been identified as related to the occurrence of simultaneous radio transmissions:

Scenario 1: Two pilots transmitting simultaneously

• on the same frequency with one ground receiver (also known as “stepped on transmission”)
• on the same frequency with two or more ground receivers being connected to a “Best Signal Selection” (BSS) system (also known as “call swamping”)
• on 2 frequencies that are cross-coupled by the controller (also known as “call-blocking”)

Scenario 2: Simultaneous transmissions by the ATCO and a pilot (also known as “stepped on transmission”):

• on a single frequency
• on frequencies that are in a cross-coupled group at the CWP; (the pilot makes a transmission on a coupled frequency while the Controller is transmitting to frequencies in the cross-coupled group).

Scenario 3: “Multi-receiver Blindspot” is another source of loss of signal (or transmission) which could also be considered in the context of Undetected Simultaneous Transmissions. It corresponds to wide range radio field operations used in difficult terrain leading to lack of reception for some pilots and to the signal being lost. Either of these scenarios or any combination of them could result in the occurrence of Undetected Simultaneous Transmission (USiT).

Consequences of blocked transmissions

Some of the effects of the blocked transmissions might include:

• All or part of a message is blocked;
• A pilot does not act on a clearance intended for him/her;
• A pilot acts on a clearance intended for another aircraft;
• Unacceptable delay in establishing RTF contact or in issuing a clearance or passing a message;
• The workload of controllers and pilots is increased due to the need to resolve the confusion.

Contributory Factors

The following parameters or factors are linked to the phenomenon, either as contributors or as a ‘inherent’ system characteristics:

• Similar Sounding Callsigns – Use of very similar callsigns leading to limited/no detection by the ATCO
• Expectation Bias – The pilot or ATCO has a strong belief/mindset towards a particular outcome and therefore misjudges the aural information
• R/T discipline (e.g.: a/c calling “too” early on a given frequency, pilot not monitoring the R/T exchange on the frequency and “cutting” the transmission exchange)
• Traffic load and frequency use – increased workload and breakdown of performance in terms of detecting USiT
• Use of frequency coupling - frequency coupling during collapsing/grouping of sectors (single sector operation)
• Frequency conditioning - The high quality of current frequency conditioning by the transmitters is responsible for the accurate compliance of the generated signal. Hence, no audible feedback (voice-over) is generated during simultaneous transmissions. (improved transmitters accuracy)
• Elimination of the weaker signal – amplitude modulation (AM) receivers eliminate a second weaker signal at the output because of their technical features.
• Distance factor - Significant differences of the received signals due to long distances
• Equipment factor - Significant differences of the received signals due to aircraft equipment
• Areas with wide coverage to deal with or condition of environment and landscape (mountains, valleys). Super refractions leading to reception of calls using the same frequency in another (far away) area (incl. propagation)
• Use of several receivers to cover a wide sector

Defences against blocked transmissions

Systemic solutions:

• Ground ATM communication system technical solution for detection and alerting, for example by re-inserting the ‘noise’ on the frequency to alert the controller that a USiT had taken place
• Airborne radio anti-blocking devices
• Optimising and limiting frequency coupling in terms of both time period and number of coupled frequencies

As an ATCO:

• Use good R/T practices (as recommended by Doc-4444). Be vigilant and have in mind that for many reasons (e.g.: Call Sign Similarity, expectation bias…), several pilots might consider a clearance to apply to them
• Monitor for overlapping or garbled transmissions and immediately ensure that the instruction/clearance is received by its recipient only if overlapped and garbled readback is detected
• Monitor for erroneous or lack of readback
• Monitor for erroneous manoeuvring of aircraft
• Before reading back and eventually applying any instruction, it should make sense in the context of the current flight. Although the efficiency of this barrier is highly dependent on the environment and traffic configuration, it is understood that if the instruction or the communication itself is unclear, the pilot and ATCO will in most cases question the instruction/request.
• Be aware of the fact that coupled frequencies might increase the chance of simultaneous transmissions. The transmissions made on the Frequency 1 will be retransmitted after a variable (short) delay on Frequency 2.

As a pilot:

• Use good R/T practices (as recommended by Doc-4444)
• Question the instruction/clearance if unsure that you are its proper recipient
• Inform the ATCO of blocked transmission as soon as you identify it
• Allow some time as appropriate to monitor the transmission exchange upon the initial contact in order not to block the RT exchange
• Keep a good situational awareness; try to note similar sounding callsigns (if they exist on frequency)

As an English as a second language speaker:

• Build competence in managing a dialogue with a pilot/controller, eg the classroom exercises in our ICAO Aviation English courses
• Develop awareness of commonly mispronounced words
• Consider the effect of miscommunication due to clipped and garbled transmissions
• Maintain best practices in R/T as recommended by Doc-4444 at all times, especially when dealing with other non-native speakers

Radiotelephony activities are included in the Aviation English Asia Ltd's ICAO Aviation English for Commercial Pilots / ATCOs course.  For more information email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

#aviationenglish #radiotelephony #airgroundcommunications #bestpractice #simultaneoustransmissions

Adapted from an article on Skybrary

• flight safety
• Aviation English
• listening comprehension
• ICAO English test

Read more: ASI Safety Tip: Four Ws of Communication