I need your help

[HiFlyChick]

[quote author=cloudrunner link=topic=92.msg380#msg380 date=1433146481]
I can understand this, they will sometimes feel like "amateurs" when they hear the quick, anticipatory exchanges between professionals that do it everyday. It would be helpful for everyone if guys/girls in that situation would include a bit of a heads-up for ATC and say something to the effect of "I'm new to this area" or "it's my first time down here". That should be enough of a clue for everyone on that freq to cut him or her a bit of slack and maybe take it a bit slower with them.... [/quote]

Good point, and one that not all pilots think through.  No one expects everyone to rattle off calls, especially when flying is your occasional hobby and not your occupation.  One mistake that I've heard guys make is the same one I used to make in Quebec at restaurants and things.  I have only a little French and it is rather poor, but I'd think through the phrase I wanted to say and then try to zoom through it, so it'd sound good.  The end result was that the person I was talking to would assume that I could converse at that speed and with proficiency.  I finally realized that it's far better to slowly work my way through what I want to say and allow my inexperience to show so the person will answer at a speed and with simplicity I needed.  Same thing holds true for radio calls.

There are a lot of helpful controllers that will tailor their calls to meet your needs.

Funny thing - I actually borrowed a friend's airplane to take a few turns around the patch at my home airport, but when I called for taxi, ATC started talking somewhat strangely to me and giving me a progressive taxi without my even asking.  I finally said "BTW, I'm usually C-GXXX" and ATC sort of chuckled and went back to talking at a normal speed with minimal directions.

[ScudRunner-d95]

Went for a rip with my Father the other day when out visiting on the coast I manned the radios and yikes I haven't flown VFR in some time. It took some getting use to again and listening to the radios I was shocked at some of the calls made, I am sure I sounded just as out of place as they did to me. Looks like I need to get back in the VFR small airplane saddle more to keep that skill up.