After thousands of hours listening to student pilots on the radio, I've noticed the same mistakes over and over. The good news? They're all fixable.
This guide covers the top 10 mistakes and how to correct them before they become ingrained habits.
Mistake #1: "With you"
Wrong: "Oakland Tower, Cessna 34 Bravo with you, 2,000 feet."
Why it's wrong: "With you" is unnecessary and wastes frequency time. ATC knows you're there because you're on their frequency.
Right: "Oakland Tower, Cessna 1234 Bravo, 2,000."
Mistake #2: "Any traffic please advise"
Wrong: "Livermore traffic, any traffic in the pattern please advise, Livermore."
Why it's wrong: This is considered annoying and unprofessional. Other pilots will make position reports when required.
Right: Just make your own position reports. Listen for others.
Mistake #3: Incomplete readback
Wrong: ATC: "Cessna 34 Bravo, taxi to runway 27 via Alpha, Bravo, hold short runway 9R." You: "Okay, Cessna 34 Bravo."
Why it's wrong: ATC needs confirmation you heard everything correctly. "Okay" doesn't cut it.
Right: "Taxi runway 27 via Alpha, Bravo, hold short runway 9R, Cessna 34 Bravo."
Mistake #4: Wrong phonetics
Wrong: - "Niner" for 90 (should be "nine zero") - "Thousand" for altitude (should be each digit) - Inventing phonetics ("X-ray" as "excellent")
Right: - Numbers: Each digit separately except for multiples of hundreds/thousands - Altitudes: "Four thousand five hundred" or "four point five" - Phonetics: Use standard NATO alphabet only
Mistake #5: Not using callsign
Wrong: "Cleared to land." (After receiving landing clearance)
Why it's wrong: ATC needs confirmation of WHO acknowledged. Multiple aircraft may be on frequency.
Right: "Cleared to land runway 27, Cessna 34 Bravo."
Mistake #6: Talking too fast
Wrong: "OaklandGroundCessna1234BravowestrampInformationCharlieVFRtoHaywardrequesttaxi"
Why it's wrong: Nobody can understand you. ATC will ask you to repeat, wasting time.
Right: Speak 30% slower than you think necessary. Pause between phrases.
Mistake #7: Excessive information
Wrong: "Oakland Ground, good morning, this is Cessna 1234 Bravo, we're a white and blue Cessna 172, parked on the west ramp near the fuel pumps, we have Information Charlie which we copied about 5 minutes ago, and we're planning a VFR flight northeast towards Hayward for some practice, and we'd like to request taxi when you get a chance, thanks."
Why it's wrong: Way too long. You're blocking the frequency.
Right: "Oakland Ground, Cessna 1234 Bravo, west ramp, Information Charlie, VFR to Hayward, taxi."
Mistake #8: Using "over" and "roger"
Wrong: "Cleared to land runway 27, roger, over."
Why it's wrong: "Roger" and "over" are military/maritime. Aviation uses standard phraseology.
Right: "Cleared to land runway 27, Cessna 34 Bravo."
Mistake #9: Not saying "unable"
Wrong: Accepting a clearance you can't safely comply with.
Why it's wrong: Dangerous. If you can't do something, say so.
Right: "Cessna 34 Bravo, unable immediate turn, traffic in sight." or "Cessna 34 Bravo, unable, request heading 180 instead."
Mistake #10: Apologizing excessively
Wrong: "Oh I'm so sorry, I meant runway 27, not 9, sorry about that, I apologize, won't happen again..."
Why it's wrong: Wastes time. One correction is enough.
Right: "Correction, runway 27, Cessna 34 Bravo."
How to fix these habits
If you're already making these mistakes:
- Record your flights - Listen to yourself
- Practice on the ground - Build correct muscle memory
- Ask your CFI - Have them call out mistakes immediately
- Use practice apps - Apps like ATC One give instant feedback on phraseology
Prevention for new pilots:
- Learn correct phraseology first - Before developing bad habits
- Listen to good examples - LiveATC from busy airports
- Practice deliberately - Focus on one correct habit at a time
Conclusion
Every pilot makes these mistakes initially. The difference between good and great pilots is how quickly they correct them.
Action item: Record your next three flights. Listen for these 10 mistakes. Note which ones you make. Practice the correct version 20 times.
Fix these now, before they become permanent habits.