Pilots got to grips with "plane talking" in Queenstown last night, during one of 30 free Civil Aviation Authority seminars around the country.
CAA training standards development officer and seminar presenter Carlton Campbell told the Otago Daily Times last night's seminar, tackling radio confusion, was expected to attract more than 80 pilots and air traffic controllers.
Mr Campbell said some international reports stated 15% of global air accidents were attributed to communication issues.
In 2011, there were almost 300 reports of aircraft being in the wrong place in New Zealand skies, which had the potential to lead to airspace busts, blocked runways, near misses or collisions.
The purpose of the seminar was to ensure pilots were providing the right messages, in the right way at the right time, and reinforcing the "four Cs" of communication - clear, concise, consistent and correct.
There was a tendency for pilots to "gradually assimilate local procedures and local interpretations for things", which had the potential to be disastrous should an international pilot misunderstand.
"It's typical of Queenstown and any other airport.
"I spent nearly 30 years flying around Queenstown ... people who operate locally - in any area - have a tendency to gradually assimilate ...
"One of the messages [from the seminar] is the ... procedures that they are required to use are important because of things like transient aircraft.
"International aircraft, where the crew's coming from overseas into Christchurch or Auckland ... they're on the tail end of a very long flight.
"If people don't make clear, concise calls, it can create confusion." Seminar attendees received a CD, which included an interactive element involving the terminology, radio technique and correct pronunciation, as well as the "Good Aviation Practice" booklet, both produced by the CAA.
