Kenny KellerCreator Helicopter Online Ground School LLC

First Call? Full Call Sign- Don't Get Lazy #helicopterschool #helicoptertraining #robinsonr44

20 Jul 2025 · 2 min

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1:30

Kenny Keller explains why helicopter pilots should use their full call sign on the first radio call of the day, like 'November 181 Mike Bravo', then abbreviate after. Similar-looking numbers in the pattern make that first full call critical for tower, approach, and UNICOM communications.

Questions this video answers

November 181 Mike Bravo

Warsaw Traffic Helicopter 1 Mike Bravo and 181 Mike Bravo

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Your first call of the day should be your entire call sign, including the end. So ABC Tower helicopter November 181 Mike Bravo. So your first call today you make your full call sign and then in most times it's totally acceptable to just abbreviate. An example for us would be Warsaw Traffic Helicopter 1 Mike Bravo or 181 Mike Bravo. If you have a lot of traffic, it's probably better to use all the numbers because you'd be surprised at how many times in the pattern you'll hear another aircraft with numbers very similar to you, similar to yours. So first call of the day, going into tower airport, talking to approach or even like here, we're just talking on the UNICOM frequency for the local traffic. November 181Mike Bravo. And then it's proper to abbreviate after the fact. Hope you've been enjoying these daily tips. We have another tip for you right here. Private Pilot 101 Helicopter Training Blueprint. This is our Amazon number one bestseller. It's a got all a ton of free information in it about training tips and all kinds of different topics. 45 entry left downwind Runway two two. Full stop Marion. So there's a free PDF version or the paperback? There's a link around this video somewhere. Check that link, download the free PDF and we'll see you in the next video. Peace out.