My biggest handicap... ATC...

[andrej]

Hi Andrej,

yes that video is a good example of a fast speaking ATC.

At this point in the video I don't understand the call sign: https://youtu.be/wGfl0gidPi0?t=20

It's a CAL Cargo Air Lines 744, and the call sign is CAL, the flight number is ICL931 (see FMC page title). I hear something like "Kal-O-nine thirty-one heavy". Or, if he says the last two digits only, and the letters C.A.L., then maybe "See Ay Al thirty-one heavy"?

The "O" would be the unwritten zero before 931 if the number appears in a 4-digit system. On the other hand, I don't think he would say "Qantas Oh Oh Oh 9" for "Qantas 9", for example, but just "Qantas niner" without leading zeros or Ohs.

I think he instructs "Kal-O-nine thirty-one heavy, descent and maintain 2000, expedite."

I hear "Kayo-Ann-thirty-one heavy-demaintain-2000-expedite."


Regards,

|-|ardy

Hello |-|ardy,

to me it is just normal NYC accent (at first it is hard to get accustomed to, but eventually you will like it). I hear "KAL nine-thirty-one heavy, descent and maintain 2000, expedite". But I see your point of confusion.

Believe it or not, it has its own Wikipedia section.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_City_English

Cheers,