Radio best practices
Your stack: COM1 = GTN 750Xi · COM2 = GTR 205 · audio routing through the GMA 350c. The rule: active talks, standby listens, never both at once on the same ear.
1
COM1 is for who you're talking to right now.
Tower, CTAF at the airport you're going to next, ATC giving you instructions. Active = the voice that gets your reply.
2
COM2 is for what's coming up or what to monitor.
The next CTAF, ATIS/AWOS, 121.5 emergency, or a busy frequency you want awareness of. Listen, don't transmit.
3
Pre-tune the next frequency before you need it.
Standby slots exist for this. While talking to ground, the tower freq is in standby. Approaching the airport, CTAF is in standby. Always one move ahead.
4
Frequency confirmed = read back, then flip-flop.
ATC: "Contact tower 118.7." Read back: "Tower 118.7, 199RF." Tune 118.7 in standby. Flip-flop to active. Check in.
Phase by phase
Phase 1 · At the home airport (1K1)
Setting up before engine start
COM1 standby
First en-route frequency you'll need (often Wichita Approach 134.85)
COM2 active
AWOS/ATIS for departure weather (could be KICT 124.10 or destination)
COM2 standby
121.50 emergency (always have this within one button press)
After listening to AWOS and getting the altimeter, retune COM2 to your destination's CTAF/ATIS in standby. Now you're set up for the whole flight.
Phase 2 · Taxi and run-up
Self-announce on CTAF, monitor approach
COM1 active
1K1 CTAF (self-announce taxi)
COM1 standby
Wichita Approach 134.85 (ready for after takeoff)
COM2 active
KICT ATIS or destination AWOS
Taxi
"Stearman traffic, Cessna 199 Romeo Foxtrot, taxiing from
[tiedown] to runway
[35], Stearman."
Departing
"Stearman traffic, 199 Romeo Foxtrot, departing runway 35,
[direction of flight] departure, Stearman."
Phase 3 · Departure & climb
Get out of the pattern, then make contact
COM1 active
1K1 CTAF until ~5 NM from field
COM1 standby
Wichita Approach 134.85 (or your en route ATC)
COM2 active
Destination CTAF (start hearing pattern activity 20+ NM out)
When clear of 1K1 pattern: Flip-flop COM1 to Approach (134.85). If requesting flight following, call up: "Wichita Approach, Cessna 199 Romeo Foxtrot, 5 east of Stearman, 2,500 climbing 4,500, request flight following to El Dorado."
Phase 4 · Cruise
Two ears, two purposes
COM1 active
Approach/ATC (if on flight following) or 122.75 air-to-air
COM1 standby
Next ATC handoff (they'll tell you)
COM2 active
Destination CTAF (listen to pattern activity)
COM2 standby
Destination AWOS/ATIS (tune ~15 NM out)
This is where split-monitoring earns its keep. You're talking to ATC on COM1 while hearing what's happening at your destination on COM2. Mental picture is built before you arrive.
Phase 5 · Arrival at a new airport
~15 NM out — set up for landing
COM1 active
Still with ATC (if on flight following) — wait for handoff or "frequency change approved"
COM1 standby
Destination CTAF (or tower if towered)
COM2 active
Destination AWOS/ATIS — get altimeter, wind, runway in use
The handoff sequence: ATC says "Frequency change approved" or "Cancel radar services approved." You: "199RF, leaving 134.85, switching CTAF, good day." Flip-flop COM1 from Approach to CTAF. Listen for 10 seconds before transmitting — get the picture.
10 NM call
"El Dorado traffic, Cessna 199 Romeo Foxtrot, 10 miles west, 3,500, inbound for the runway
[X], El Dorado."
Pattern entry
"El Dorado traffic, 199 Romeo Foxtrot, entering left downwind runway
[X], El Dorado."
Phase 6 · After landing
Clear, retune, monitor
COM1 active
Destination CTAF — self-announce clear of runway
COM1 standby
If returning: home airport CTAF
COM2 active
AWOS for departure weather
Clear of runway
"El Dorado traffic, 199 Romeo Foxtrot, clear of runway
[X], El Dorado."
When something's different
Towered airport (KICT, KAAO, KEND, etc.)
Frequency stack: ATIS → Clearance Delivery (if Class C/B) → Ground → Tower → Departure. Five frequencies for a single departure.
- COM1 cycle: ATIS first → Clearance → Ground → Tower → Departure. Move through them one at a time, dropping the last into standby as you go.
- COM2 monitor: Keep 121.50 active throughout. You'll have your hands full with COM1.
- The trick: Pre-load all of them in the GTN's "recent frequencies" list before you call up Clearance. Then it's two taps to switch each time.
Flight following
Why bother? Free traffic advisories, an extra set of eyes, faster help if something goes wrong. As a student pilot you should be requesting it on every cross-country.
- Initial call: "Wichita Approach, Cessna 199 Romeo Foxtrot, request."
- Wait for "199RF, go ahead." Then: "199 Romeo Foxtrot, 5 east of Stearman, 2,500 climbing 4,500, VFR to El Dorado, request flight following."
- They'll say: "199RF, squawk 0427, ident." You: "Squawk 0427, ident, 199RF." Then Chris enters 0427 on the GTX transponder (via the GTN).
- Termination: When you're ready to leave their frequency: "Wichita Approach, 199 Romeo Foxtrot, cancel flight following, switching CTAF, good day."
Emergency on the radio
The order is fixed. Memorize it.
- Aviate — fly the airplane first. Always.
- Navigate — head toward an airport or safe landing area.
- Communicate — only after the first two are stable.
What to say: "Mayday Mayday Mayday, Cessna 199 Romeo Foxtrot,
[nature of emergency],
[position],
[altitude],
[intentions],
[souls on board],
[fuel remaining]."
Where to say it: Stay on whoever you're talking to. If silent, switch COM1 to 121.50. If you're on flight following, ATC already knows your code and position — fastest help.
Set the squawk: 7700 = general emergency, 7600 = lost comm, 7500 = hijack. Chris enters via the GTN.
Lost or unsure of frequency
You can always:
- Listen to 121.50 — emergency frequency, always monitored, you can ask for help even non-emergency
- Press NRST on the GTN → Airports → tap an airport → see all its frequencies
- Call 122.20 for FSS (Flight Service) — they'll figure out where to send you
- Squawk 7600 if your comm radios are dead — ATC will see you and follow lost-comm procedures
Audio panel (GMA 350c) tips
Day-to-day audio routing
- COM1 selected for TX (transmit): green button COM1, talking on COM1
- Both COM1 and COM2 selected for RX (receive): you hear both, but only transmit on the one selected for TX
- 3D Audio: turn it ON — separates COM1 (left ear) and COM2 (right ear) spatially. Makes split monitoring usable instead of confusing.
- Intercom mode: ALL for normal flying (pilot, passenger, all hear each other and radios). ISO if you need to concentrate during a tough call.
Split COM (advanced)
When activated, pilot transmits on COM1 and copilot transmits on COM2 simultaneously. Useful for: one person talking to Tower while the other is talking to FBO, or one person picking up the IFR clearance while the other is on Ground. Don't use it until you're solid on basic radio work.
The habit that makes you sound professional
Listen before you transmit. Always.
When you tune a new frequency, listen for 10 seconds before you key the mic. You'll hear someone else mid-call, the rhythm of the frequency, the controller's pace. Stepping on a transmission is the #1 sign of a student pilot. Listen first.