Radio Callsigns

[FreqOfNature]

Why are call signs used

Nobody has really answered the OP's question: Why are these callsigns used?

I take it from an earlier posting that they are assigned or approved by ICAO.

Just speculation from modest experience...

Entities that have a fleet of aircraft can assign a flight number (CACTUC 123) instead of the tail number (N70233). Thinking this not only make life easier for air traffic controllers like Domain Name Service makes life easier for users on the Internet, but also allows for subtitutions of aircraft without having to update the flight plan info.

If you've ever monitored a general aviation airport with lots of air traffic you will see how call signs helps. Typically an pilot will report to the air traffic controllers with his full tail number (I.E. N1234) and the type of aircraft (I.E. Cessna). After the initial contact the controller and pilot will cantonise the N1234 call sign to 'CESSNA 34'.

Anyway long story short, the answer to the question of 'Why are call signs used?' is for communication brevity.

Tracy
www.freqofnature.com

 

[mjw357]

Nobody has really answered the OP's question: Why are these callsigns used?

I take it from an earlier posting that they are assigned or approved by ICAO.

It is a way to combine the schedule and time of the flight, with the aircraft assigned to that flight. The flight numbers are not random, United 1047 is always going to be to-from the same airports, at about the same time of day.

For example, American Airlines Flight 1 is the JFK-LAX flight, and will have the aircraft type and tail number assigned to that flight available to ATC. Even if the aircraft changes due to scheduling, maintenance whatever, ATC knows where the plane that is assigned to AAL 1 wants to go.

BTW, here is an index for the callsigns.

http://www.faa.gov/airports_airtraffic/air_traffic/publications/atpubs/CNT/3-3-A.htm

 

[immelmen]

Nobody has really answered the OP's question: Why are these callsigns used?

I take it from an earlier posting that they are assigned or approved by ICAO.

...Any operator of an air carrier certified under CFR 14 can apply to the FAA to have a call sign to use for there flights instead of using the aircrafts civil registration. As long as your company can pony up the cash, you can get yourself a callsign.

why they are used....it quickly identifies the operator of the aircraft and information about that specific flights operation such as type/destination/ETD-ETA/ect. where as just the "N-number" would leave a lot of this info unknown, and that flight may be operated by a different aircraft with a different N-number every day of the week but the flight number is always the same

 

[DaveNF2G]

OK, that answers how an airline can use their company name instead of their tail number.

Now, we're still wondering why some airlines use callsigns other than the actual name of the airline.

 

[mjw357]

Now, we're still wondering why some airlines use callsigns other than the actual name of the airline.

Because some of the names sound too much alike. American, America West, Southwest, Northwest and so on. It's just a lot easier and safer for the pilots and controllers to have unique callsigns that can't be easily confused.

 

[K4DHR]

Just speculation from modest experience...

Entities that have a fleet of aircraft can assign a flight number (CACTUC 123) instead of the tail number (N70233). Thinking this not only make life easier for air traffic controllers like Domain Name Service makes life easier for users on the Internet, but also allows for subtitutions of aircraft without having to update the flight plan info.

If you've ever monitored a general aviation airport with lots of air traffic you will see how call signs helps. Typically an pilot will report to the air traffic controllers with his full tail number (I.E. N1234) and the type of aircraft (I.E. Cessna). After the initial contact the controller and pilot will cantonise the N1234 call sign to 'CESSNA 34'.

Anyway long story short, the answer to the question of 'Why are call signs used?' is for communication brevity.

Tracy
www.freqofnature.com

Good explanation.

Some controllers who are pilots/aviation geeks might even call you back as "Skyhawk (C172)", "Cardinal(C175)", "Cherokee (PA28)" etc., depending on what specific model of aircraft you're flying. Particularly if there's another aircraft in their sector with a similar tail number.

 

[sopdan]

Champion = Champion Air, not Sun Country (callsign = Sun Country)

Also, Flagship = Pinnacle, which is one of the NWAirlinks... but is not all encompassing, thank you very much.

As to why...

"Acey xxxx" takes up a lot less time to say (and reduces freq. congestion) than "Atlantic Southeast Airlines xxxx" (they used to be Candler, and I believe before that, they were Acey, for the record).

 

[ME812]

One I hear all the time at Lambert in StLouis is Waterski. Anyone?

Todd
kb0udf

 

[DaveNF2G]

Read the whole thread before posting. See Message #13.

 

[EMD91123]

Frig Dave maybe the guy missed reading Waterski in the reply. Cut him some slack man !!!!!!!!!!!. That was pretty rude.

 

[captaincraig44]

Read the whole thread before posting. See Message #13.

That list is very generic and very out of date. "Waterski" is specifically Trans States Airlines based in STL. I may work on the others if I have time over the next few days.