Flight school instructor complains about ATC controller phraseology.

Attributes
ACN	304039
Time
Date	199505
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : prc
State Reference	AZ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 8300 msl bound upper : 8300
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zab tower : prc
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : instructor
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 178 flight time total : 12700 flight time type : 3500
ASRS Report	304039
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : trainee
Qualification	pilot : private
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

While flying a practice ILS DME runway 21 approach at prescott, az on an IFR flight plan in VMC, the tower controller referred to another aircraft's altitude as 7.3 while we were at 8300 ft MSL at 7.3 DME on the 061 degree radial. We were concerned because of the confusion. The controllers at prc and many others in the southwest commonly refer to altitude with the slang (lazy) abbreviated decimal equivalent. They also drop the type aircraft off the call signs leaving other aircraft wondering about the performance expectations of the other aircraft around him.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLT SCHOOL INSTRUCTOR COMPLAINS ABOUT ATC CTLR PHRASEOLOGY.

Narrative: WHILE FLYING A PRACTICE ILS DME RWY 21 APCH AT PRESCOTT, AZ ON AN IFR FLT PLAN IN VMC, THE TWR CTLR REFERRED TO ANOTHER ACFT'S ALT AS 7.3 WHILE WE WERE AT 8300 FT MSL AT 7.3 DME ON THE 061 DEG RADIAL. WE WERE CONCERNED BECAUSE OF THE CONFUSION. THE CTLRS AT PRC AND MANY OTHERS IN THE SW COMMONLY REFER TO ALT WITH THE SLANG (LAZY) ABBREVIATED DECIMAL EQUIVALENT. THEY ALSO DROP THE TYPE ACFT OFF THE CALL SIGNS LEAVING OTHER ACFT WONDERING ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS OF THE OTHER ACFT AROUND HIM.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.