Narrative:

It is very common for pilots to respond to clrncs with just their call sign or a double-click of the microphone. Neither of these are good responses and simply indicate laziness on the part of the pilot. Controllers are also at fault for using the double-click to respond to pilots. I have tried to get controllers to change in my facility, but old, bad habits are very hard to break. I have been told that the double-click has been around forever and to stop being a baby about it! Since all an accident team has to go on is the tapes of the incidents, I believe that double clicks and pilots simply replying with only their call signs is an accident waiting to happen. As the skies get busier, it is only a matter of time before one of these leads to, or is partially to blame for, an incident or accident. I think a reminder in the callback publication by NASA that the only proper way for a pilot to respond to any ATC clearance is by using their call sign and at least a 'roger,' if not a complete readback of the clearance. And double-clicks by a pilot or a controller have no place in aviation! Laziness on either side of the microphone just should not be allowed!

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MMU CTLR CONCERNED WITH PLT AND CTLR COM READBACKS, FREQUENTLY EXPRESSED AS SINGLE OR DOUBLE MIKE CLICKING AS RESPONSE TO CLRNC ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.

Narrative: IT IS VERY COMMON FOR PLTS TO RESPOND TO CLRNCS WITH JUST THEIR CALL SIGN OR A DOUBLE-CLICK OF THE MIKE. NEITHER OF THESE ARE GOOD RESPONSES AND SIMPLY INDICATE LAZINESS ON THE PART OF THE PLT. CTLRS ARE ALSO AT FAULT FOR USING THE DOUBLE-CLICK TO RESPOND TO PLTS. I HAVE TRIED TO GET CTLRS TO CHANGE IN MY FACILITY, BUT OLD, BAD HABITS ARE VERY HARD TO BREAK. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE DOUBLE-CLICK HAS BEEN AROUND FOREVER AND TO STOP BEING A BABY ABOUT IT! SINCE ALL AN ACCIDENT TEAM HAS TO GO ON IS THE TAPES OF THE INCIDENTS, I BELIEVE THAT DOUBLE CLICKS AND PLTS SIMPLY REPLYING WITH ONLY THEIR CALL SIGNS IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. AS THE SKIES GET BUSIER, IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE ONE OF THESE LEADS TO, OR IS PARTIALLY TO BLAME FOR, AN INCIDENT OR ACCIDENT. I THINK A REMINDER IN THE CALLBACK PUBLICATION BY NASA THAT THE ONLY PROPER WAY FOR A PLT TO RESPOND TO ANY ATC CLRNC IS BY USING THEIR CALL SIGN AND AT LEAST A 'ROGER,' IF NOT A COMPLETE READBACK OF THE CLRNC. AND DOUBLE-CLICKS BY A PLT OR A CTLR HAVE NO PLACE IN AVIATION! LAZINESS ON EITHER SIDE OF THE MIKE JUST SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED!

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.