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ARTCC radar controller at ZBW uses nonstandard phraseology to instruct a pilot to stop transponder squawk.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 542594 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200203 |
| Day | Fri |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : epm.airport |
| State Reference | ME |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 5000 msl bound upper : 9500 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zbw.artcc tower : cxy.tower |
| Operator | general aviation : personal |
| Make Model Name | M-20 E Super 21 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | descent : intermediate altitude |
| Flight Plan | None |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 39 flight time total : 2700 flight time type : 2290 |
| ASRS Report | 542594 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : radar |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | non adherence : published procedure |
| Independent Detector | other controllera other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | controller : issued advisory none taken : anomaly accepted |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | ATC Human Performance |
| Primary Problem | ATC Human Performance |
Narrative:
Descending into epm, I canceled radar advisories with ATC. ATC's response was 'strangle the parrot, change to advisory frequency approved.' 'strangle the parrot' being nonstandard, it took me a while to realize what he had said. Literally, it means 'stop squawk' which I don't think he really wanted. I squawked VFR (1200). I think the use of nonstandard terminology, colorful though it may be, should be discouraged -- especially if it is used incorrectly! It was confusing and distraction me from other tasks unnecessarily and had I complied and stopped the squawk, would have caused increased risk.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: ARTCC RADAR CTLR AT ZBW USES NONSTANDARD PHRASEOLOGY TO INSTRUCT A PLT TO STOP XPONDER SQUAWK.
Narrative: DSNDING INTO EPM, I CANCELED RADAR ADVISORIES WITH ATC. ATC'S RESPONSE WAS 'STRANGLE THE PARROT, CHANGE TO ADVISORY FREQ APPROVED.' 'STRANGLE THE PARROT' BEING NONSTANDARD, IT TOOK ME A WHILE TO REALIZE WHAT HE HAD SAID. LITERALLY, IT MEANS 'STOP SQUAWK' WHICH I DON'T THINK HE REALLY WANTED. I SQUAWKED VFR (1200). I THINK THE USE OF NONSTANDARD TERMINOLOGY, COLORFUL THOUGH IT MAY BE, SHOULD BE DISCOURAGED -- ESPECIALLY IF IT IS USED INCORRECTLY! IT WAS CONFUSING AND DISTR ME FROM OTHER TASKS UNNECESSARILY AND HAD I COMPLIED AND STOPPED THE SQUAWK, WOULD HAVE CAUSED INCREASED RISK.
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.