Stevo1kinevo had a similar situation. The ATCer wasn’t very courteous when Steve wanted to practice an approach in VFR conditions. I loved it when he said, “It’s their job.”

Mr. Pauly you handled this like the consummate professional that you clearly are. I must comment, however, that I am embarrassed by the service you received from JAX ARTCC! The person working "flight data" is (clearly) not on a scope, and perhaps that is the reason he is working that position, (not yet qualified, etc.). Nonetheless, you should expect immediate and professional service, especially as you identified yourself as the PIC of a taxiing aircraft, using the landline number published. He seemed to try to avoid doing anything other than advising you to do what you already tried to do, Then he said "they probably won't pick up for me; they're pretty busy." INCREDIBLE!!!! This is NOT the usual level of professionalism I have experienced over the past 48 years of flying in JAX ARTCC's airspace. I might suggest that this be brought to the attention of the facility manager over there in Hilliard - I am sure he would agree this is not the usual great service we typically see at JAX ARTCC and might perhaps counsel this employee on the required duties at flight data when an airman telephones from a pending IFR departure.

Second nice flight with you today. Now its time for me to get some yard work done . Just got to love the squeaker landings. Thanks Brian.

I love how you handled the situation on the ground...professional, courteous and aware...I'm sure it was a frustrating situation. That was a beautiful flight and a great way to end an enjoyable weekend. I enjoy the videos when your wife and children can join as flying is bout family and I love to see how they interact with you and the airplane. I also enjoy seeing how the avionics upgrade is working for you in real world situations.

Nice flight with that new instrument panel! Thanks for sharing. Don/NE Ohio😊

@16:30 i always say... it's always sunny above the clouds :D - great video

I had the exact same thing happen to me 2 years ago when trying to depart IFR from Jekyll Island which is about 10 miles south of St Simons. I got the feeling I was talking to the wall.

one cool cat, with precise and clear radio communications. a perfect training tool for a new instrument student or rect ifr rated pilot, also a refresher for an old one like me. thank you Martin you also have a wife who seems to enjoy the whole thing, something i never had still married though to the same wife after 52 years.😇

Martin, the same thing happened to me at SSI last year. It was so bizarre, the Jax Center clearance delivery guy also made me feel like I was bothering him. I hope your video makes it up the chain at Jax CTR. Thanks for your videos, keep them coming 🛫

You are both SO CALM.....IVE LIVED SSI 22 YEARS AND THIS VIDEI MAKED ME NAUSEOUS

I've had the exactly same experience in KSSI. It's time for them to change the procedure there. They should either install a local ATC antenna or allow flight service to relay the clearance when you call them.

NICE!! thanks for the ride along.!!

Martin, I was on an IFR cross country with one of my students a few weeks ago and heard you on Evansville approach and mentioned how much of a fan I am of your channel. I appreciate your videos and always learn something!

Cloud surfing. My favorite!

She called him out on not calling switching tanks!! As funny as it is, it shows that he always calls out his actions and she expected it and when she didn’t hear it she made sure it happened.

It was always a pleasure working you out of CID, one of my resident favorites years back. I hope to chat on the freq. again some day down in S. Florida. Keep up the good work!

Hi Martin. The first thing that caught my eye was the Aero Commander and that’s because I saw Bob Hoover fly that plane so many times he was all class. Except in the beginning you flew over some beautiful green country side. Finally seeing spring here in Idaho.

non-towner IFR clearance is really a long one, I learned real-world situations from you. Thanks, Martin

Martin, I really enjoy your videos and like other viewers have stated, I learn so much from watching them start to end. I got my IFR ticket about 3 years ago and am just now venturing out into the realm of "real-world" IFR. I learn a lot from your interactions with controllers and having an IFD 440 in my Long-EZ, the breakout videos on screen really help me learn. Thank you for taking the time to do these videos--I know they are a lot of work!

Martin and Beckey, I about busted a gut laughing at her explanation of the "Beech" at the Beech Bash! I had my wife come in and listen and she gave me "the look" because we had been to Tullahoma TN for an ABS Instructor Clinic and I told her about the Beech Party when we left she said "It is pretty here but where is the beach?" If we get rid of these stuffy heads from allergies we will be at the Bash...but not with our swimsuits!

SSI! A favorite! Best BBQ, and a hotel with a pool that's more or less on the ramp!

I’ve flown there before and asked jax why they weren’t able to hear me, they tell me it’s a dead zone in that area, they did have a radar outage last time I was there, very difficult to contact them at SSI, but handled it well!

I had a similar flight out of Vero Beach last month to Augusta for stop northbound, great job….. I hate cutting grass too….

This couple is chill. Great video. thanks.

You are a pro! Thanks for these great videos.

You did a great job keeping your cool during this situation, very professional. Awesome flight up to your destination. Thx for sharing.

Missed you by a week at St Simons Island. We really enjoyed it! We were on a driving trip but I was mapping out the option to fly down from Chicago. Thanks again for sharing these videos. No need for artificial or exaggerated drama. Just the very real hiccups of things like radio reception.

I came across your video while browsing through KZfaq. I grew up on Saint Simons and learned to fly at McKinnon Field in my dad's Bonanza. That was back in the day when McKinnon had an FAA tower and Delta and Eastern provided service to the Island. That Bonanza experience put me well ahead of the power curve when I got to Pensacola to start Navy pilot training, as the T-34 was nothing but a modified Bonanza. I moved back to the Island after I retired from United, except now the population has grown from 3,000 when I was growing up, to 16,000. The airport is a popular stop for Navy helicopters from JAX and Army helicopters from Hunter and points north. The fact that Southern Soul Barbecue is right across the street has nothing to do with it, wink wink, nudge nudge. You'll often find Davis Love III and other PGA tour golfers there. Paul Rudd occasionally drops in from time to time. He discovered SSB while on the Island to film Anchorman II and pronounced it some of the best BBQ he's ever had . . . and he's a Kansas City guy. Now he keeps finding reasons to stop by. Anyway, enjoyed your video. Happy flying.

Thanks, great vid, as usual 👍 I was flying with an instructor last week and he reminded me that 'Runway vacated' is preferred, not 'Clear of the r....' as 'clear' is for clearances, just as 'takeoff' is only for takeoff clearance. Ever since the 2*747 crash at Tenerife

same experience here every time .... there seems to be a pervasive lack of professionalism from both pilots and ATC and .... we've started avoiding SSI these days

This was a great learning experience. This scenario is all too common. Best way to handle it is get the hold for release clearance before start. After start, attempt the frequencies for a good reception spot (sometimes this might even mean just cell reception), stop where you have reception, call for release. Prying a release from the guy on the phone is a lot easier than a full clearance. I go to a coastal airport often that the only place to get any kind of reception for anything is on the ramp, I have to do my runup on the taxiway, taxi back to the ramp, call because vhf doesn't work, get my release, then have about 5 minutes to taxi to the runway and be wheels up.

There is something special when closely approaching a nice airport where everything is clean and uniform.

Nice flight

As always thanks for bringing us along. That controller was really hoping you'd get ahold of them and just hang up😂

I’ve had the same issue every time in ssi. Thankfully we’ve always been able to depart vfr and pick up in the air

Vielen Dank für das schöne Video.

Wow. Another great video Sir. Please don’t wait so long in between your videos.

Subscribed because of your technical excellence capturing all the flight inputs and your professional pilot skills. SSI is usually not this problematic with ATC. Regards from Jekyll Island 😃👍

Wow! Never had that kind of response when calling an ATC phone number for a clearance. Madisonville is just a short hop from my home airport. Enjoy the Beech Bash!

😂 You have the patience of an radio ham trying to pick up a DX-spedition in the static! 👏

Thanks for sharing!

Love that discussion about cutting the grass… 😂

A few years ago I was leaving KSSI at the break of dawn with no wind and a low thin overcast layer which was dissipating quickly to the south towards Florida which was my destination. I elected to depart off of 22 which lined up with my direction of flight and being in an amphib it gave an out to land on the water as long as I didn’t hit the overturned Hyundai container ship. I was able to obtain my clearance over the radio from the hold short line of 22. While on the radio there was a jet at runway 4 that decided to taxi out and sit on the runway. I quickly started calling them to ask if they had an IFR release and noted that I did and it was quickly running out. Finally after a few minutes and not a word from the jet I could see them turning around with their tail between their legs and exiting the runway. Not a word was spoken from their end. I suspect they were trying to get a clearance over the phone as I did not hear them on Jax frequency requesting a clearance. I still think about how rude they were to enter the runway and then no apology or even acknowledgement after the fact. Felt good wagging my wings going by them. Moral is you can get reception away from the buildings and at the north end to clear obstacles to the south. That and don’t enter an active runway without a release.

Hey Martin, enjoyed the video thank you! You really needed patience with ATC getting that clearance. Years ago, before cell phones, you had to run from inside an FBO or Ops building after calling ATC on a pay phone. Then of course you had maybe 15 min to run to the plane start it up and get off the ground before the clearance time expired. Fun! The advances today in aviation are spectacular, but there sometimes is a reminder of the past...thanks for sharing your experiences.

Last summer I landed in Madisonville and three dogs ran out to meet us on the runway as we were rolling out. I quickly made an announcement and shut down the engine so that we didn’t have an accident. 😮 luckily we were able to quickly escort the dogs away and get the plane started back up to move off.

I “FEEL” your pain!!!!

Amazing patience!

Just for perfection: it is DEW POINT, not due point!

Nice video. Awesome views! As a ham radio operator I can tell you that indeed a bit more transmitting power can make the difference. But also that jet behind you is some 3 foot higher, and when its antenna on top of the fuselage is also that much higher, and sure will make the difference.

Did you get to enjoy Southern Soul BBQ at the departure end of 22 across the street? It’s walking distance from the FBO! My kids love going there! You have to keep an eye on your max gross after having lunch there 😂

Highly recommend the Bell Buckle Cafe! Can't believe JAX would ignore their own Flight Service person, as he claimed.

Excellent content!

Just found your channel by chance! Loved the Key West Flight you uploaded. If you are ever back in Florida, please let me know! I'm a 250 hour PPL working towards my instrument as of a couple weeks ago and I'd love to sit right seat if you're ever near DeLand (KDED) Thanks for sharing what you do!

Chuckled at the most exciting moment of the flight (GPSS Turn). I thought the most exciting moment was when the Bo stopped at 10k all by itself.

Martin - I made the decision to install a 16 watt radio for just the issue you encountered. What I am surprised by is the fact how difficult it was for you to get the clearance with the guy on the phone.

I’ve had this issue there in the past. Specially when trying to pick it up while holding short of runway 4. But when I’m by the FBO, holding short of 22, I can pick up the frequency no problem. Same airplane, both low IFR days.

I feel your pain with that issue there at KSSI. I had the same problem a few years ago from that side of the airport but just a heads up, if you are at the end of RWY22 or close ish to the FBO you can get JAX on the radio. The GTN 750 and 650 should have 10 watt transmitters to help with further distance transmissions. Also it was a pleasure speaking with you at sun n fun this year.

Hi Martin you are very professional and instructive I recently landed in you home town airport Cider Rapid Coles to your hangars We landed on A320 from GlobalX just bringing your town team from college games March madness

That was painful….admire your patience….

I love going to KSSI. Great place to fly into.

Your wife is hilarious. St. Simon's is always fun.

Spannender Abflug! In solch einer Situation die Ruhe zu bewahren ist sicher nicht einfach, insbesondere da der Mann am Telefon mir nicht besonders freundlich vorkam. Geniesse deine Videos immer wieder, macht weiter so! 👍🏼Grüsse aus der Schweiz - Frans

I had not heard the term "cloverleaf" for that entry before. I like it.

Great video. Being a software engineer, does has its advantages. 😊

Hi Martin, met you last year at the beech bash. Looking forward to seeing you again sir. You are still one of my inspirations and I follow you. Never heard a phone call go quite like that. He didn't seem to want to help, maybe it's just me. I liked the way you handled it though. Hopefully see you next week. Fly safe. Oh yeah and your wife is hilarious!!

LOL...WTF...that clearance was like a Monte Python skit...

You could transmit on guard 121.5 and all jets who are in contact with ATC overhead will be monitoring the frequency, make sure to quickly qualify your reason for using guard ( lest you get chastised for it ) and ask for a relay to center to request a good frequency to use or to have them reach out to you. I might be one of those pilots if I’m at work and would certainly not mind doing this for you if I heard your attempt.

That guy at JAX Center needs an attitude adjustment. I would have moved a little though and tried a few different spots on the field to get better reception

24:34 LOL

That’s weird a few months ago I was at st Simmons and we called for clearance on the phone also and they had no problem giving us the clearance over the phone

Sorry you had such a lousy experience, that’s not how it’s supposed to work. He should have gotten the clearance right away. The radio works but only from the ramp, you taxi towards 22 you can’t get it, very weak.

You’ll get better reception at the end of 22. I’ve never gotten them at the end of 4, likely due to those trees.

Beech Becky, not Beach... : P Though @ the Bash, they may have "Sand which is there".

Interesting situation. Most of Australia is class G below 8500 so we don’t need a clearance to take off IFR from most non controlled aerodromes. If we can’t get centre on the ground we just contact them airborne. Hopefully any traffic is on CTAF.😂 US is clearly more organised but that situation looks annoying.

It appears comments provided by pilots in ForeFlight for SSI has 131.375 as some type of “repeater” that gets you to JAX Center for clearance. No where to be found in the AFD, so guess it is something that is stumbled upon.

I can hear you

How r u not freaking out

Martin, I didn’t know you enjoyed mowing grass so much 😅

I’ve never known you to be speechless!

Try the bbq cafe up the street. Amazing experience

Not always possible but I always try to file between towered fields for this reason or have 1000 and 3 to get the clearance airborne.......I've never had good luck with GCO/RCO or phone numbers.

I’ve flown in and out of there many times. I’m honestly surprised you got good cell signal at the end of 4. Sometimes it’s a black hole right there. It’s extremely hard to get anyone on the radios for clearance on 4. As far as him not giving you your clearance over the phone that was ridiculous. I’ve gotten clearance at the end on the phone holding short immediately. If it was a really busy day (traffic gets crazy there they even have a pop up tower sometimes) then I could understand but it was a slow day it seemed.

I’ve never had trouble calling the phone number. That’s literally their job to provide that service. If there isn’t enough room in the sky then I understand but if they’re too busy to take a clearance from a flight data position then they need to split it off.

Noticed the Hawker had clearance as they pulled up behid. Maybe the hold is a deadspot with better TX/RX from the ramp?

The Jet's antenna might have been higher and was able to get JAX center.

Hi, just wondering if it’s safe to assume you’re released if given a void time; I always do. Thanks.

at 29:10 - I don't think that was Big Bird - he's bright yellow and doesn't usually fly.

99-Charlie-Echo didn't have to wait very long to be able to take off (the jet immediately behind you at St. Simon), they got him out pretty darn quick and cleared him to 2000 knowing you would already be well above that by that time (what she probably was looking to see is what your climb-rate was, once she knew you had a really good climb-rate, she went ahead and cleared the jet). And yes, that Jet would have had a better transmitter and likely a better antenna as well. When the plane is bigger, the Standing-Wave-Ratios are more optimum because it gets to use the entire plane footprint. One thing you could do is check it with a meter as It indicates whether there is an impedance mismatch between the load and the internal impedance on a radio frequency (RF) transmission line, or waveguide.

Interesting that the jet had communication on the ground but you guys didn’t. Also ADSB is amazing. It can turn an IFR departure into a VFR departure🤷🏻‍♂️

Had the same issue from Jekyll with jax

Just departed out of SSI today. It was a madhouse on a Sunday morning. Fortunately able to pick up clearance in the air. Did you by chance send a link to this video to ZJX?

Martin did you look over at the Commander and think, "hummmmmmm I can make Man Maths work for that........"

👍☑️

Beech as in Beechcraft...not as in sand (beach). Heck I thought it might have been the beech tree celebration.

🌴Thanks for Video M&B. ,,regarding your radio-equipment : When/ If have time, go for a checkUp on the transmissionLine(coax) & antenna. ,,The radio & antenna might not be optimized matched well together. (Swr/Reflected-radiowaves on your Radio-setup might have creep'ed-up. ,,Either because of age/ moisture in the coax-cable(and/or the plugs), partially damaged antenna,..or just not matched well from the time the radio was installed ) //Thanks again for wonderful&interesting videos. Have nice weekend over-there.

@ 30:33… is that normal indication for AMPS. Jus curious. Thanks for sharing Pauly

I've dealt with a few lazy controllers lately not wanting to do their job. Happens in every profession I suppose

Would the jet be allowed to act as a relay for your clearance?

Inspiring how you handle the hiccup

Just my thoughts: I think it's a bit shameful that ATC doesn't have better comms at such an airport. It's not like it's a jungle strip in the back woods. VHF radios are "line of sight" type radios. Obviously the terrain & distance play into the issue you were having. More wattage on the radio "may" help, maybe / maybe not. Google says: "Generally, small aircraft transmit about 5 to 10 Watts whereas airline VHF radios transmit about 20 to 50 Watts. All depending on the model." In the radio world, doubling your transmit power typically only makes a "just noticeable" difference on the receiving end. The best thing, in this situation, is getting the antenna higher or out from behind obstacles like trees and buildings. Next time a situation presents itself like this, try moving the aircraft a few inches/feet "this way or that way"; it's amazing the difference it can make with VHF. The jet may have higher wattage transmitters but his antenna is also higher up than yours...