"Negative Traffic"

angryweb Site Editor Los Angeles

Hello everyone, I'm hoping somebody will squash a debate going on at another forum I post at.

I am a private pilot in Los Angeles flying out of Van Nuys and around Burbank and LAX. During my training, when I was given the position of near by traffic I would reply "looking for traffic". If I saw the traffic, I would announce "traffic in sight" or if I feel too much time has passed and safety could be compromised, I would announce "negative traffic". I know the proper term is "negative contact" but I picked up my terminology and method from other local traffic that tends to do the same in this area (which is everything from GA to charter to airliners). Is this proper communications etiquette or am I doing something wrong? Do controllers care about this or is it just nit picking on the part of my pilot peers?

Looking forward to your answers.

SSgt Young StuckMic Marine Corps Liaison California

I've gotten all kinds of responses and i personally don't care as long as you respond that you have it or don't

Radium Epic Member SoCal Tracon

The big thing is IN SIGHT or not... I dont care what words you say if you DONT see it... cause you can treat it all the same, but I want to hear correct phraseology about SEEing traffic for both saftey, and record keeping reasons.

Will7357 Rookie Louisiana

i like negative contact, looking or tally ho

atcguruaf Rico Suave AZ

Just think about it from a controller's point of view. Who cares what I like or dislike... it's all about safety. Negative traffic can easily be heard as "I have traffic" over a radio. I'm not saying it's wrong, but if you use standard phraseology, it alleviates any confusion. By saying "negative contact" it gives the controller the chance to say "say again?" or something to that effect. Just as much as pilots want us to be clear and paint the picture, the sentiment is reciprocated. As a matter of fact, rather than saying "negative traffic" (or anything of that sort), I'd much rather prefer "tower/approach, where again is that traffic?" or "say again position of traffic?" Rather than just saying what you have been saying, although negative contact is probably better because it's standard. Hope this helps.

MikeATC Retired FAA, NATCA Member Nashville TN

If after a few minutes you still haven't acquired the traffic you can ask the controller if the traffic is still a factor. Once the controller has issued traffic we are supposed to go back and tell you when it is no longer a factor.

As for what to say when issued traffic, Searching, or looking all works, then if you see the traffic say traffic in sight, or if not negative on the traffic works.

. The key is keep it short and to the point so you don't tie up the frequency or the controllers attention.

RadarContact Scope Dope High Desert TRACON

What they all said.... but yeah if you say searching, and then nothing else, I know you don't see it. I'm certain that if you see it, you'll tell me. If it's still a factor and you haven't reported it in sight, I'm going to issue it again until either no factor or you see it.

Cirrus12 Epic Member So. NH

I love hearing people say Tally Ho. Tally Ho, No Joy, Roger Wilco.

duranme Trusted Contributor San Diego (SCT)

As long as the point gets across I'm sure none of us at sct care how you say it (especially in the clusterf?ck that is the burbank area [bur, vny, whp, pretty much the SFV, TO, Moorpark, Glendale Pasadena]

towerflower Junior Member Palm Coast, FL

The only traffic reply that I have received that I didn't like is "We have them on TCAS." As a pilot you might be able to use it for information but as a controller I can't accept it as "Traffic in sight" and it will require me to restate Advise traffic in sight.