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I often hear the Airlift pilot say "We are condition bravo"

What does this mean?

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If I had an antenna, I would; but I can only transmit on 160 meters.
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DE K7MHI

I doubt the pilot is using the Force Protection conditions, as I just heard one say "Condition Bravo... Charlie, actually".

FPCON "Charlie" means a terrorist threat is "Imminent." And the pilot sounded pretty ho-hum...anyone else out there with an idea?

I am guessing perhaps Condition Bravo in this context has to do with the crew inbound or outbound.

I would guess since it has to do with aircraft it could be ATIS

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automatic_ ... on_Service

Generally, acknowledging which ATIS one has last copied is said
"with information (bravo, charlie, etc...)"

I have never heard them use the term "condition" when acknowldging ATIS info.

Usually they say something along the lines of:
"Quantas 347, we are 7000 for 5000, crossing FLAAK, inbound for ILS runway 34 Left, we have bravo"

It cycles through the alphabet, and ATC will have the current letter so they know that everyone is on the same page weather wise. Once in a while you will hear ATC say, "Quanta 347, turn left heading 180, cont down to 5000, current is charlie" meaning they have old info, go back and listen again, but here are your instructions in the mean time.

Are you at work?
Now? 0022 NOV22 2010?

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Who, me?

Ever get bombarded with T/stops @ locations that don't verify?
:twisted:

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Oh yeah... and plates that are no good...then there is sock mouth that wants data on three names... with DOB like "wa ni fo fi ele two two"... grrr...

To answer the other question though...no, I wasnt at work...had just got off work at 2300...

I've never been sent on an anonymous/ invisible 'barking dog' complaint 'cuz someone wanted to watch a movie either.

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I'm pretty sure ALNW's use of it is similar to ATIS but probably is used as in an internal method to describe conditions. ALNW seems to only use Alpha, Bravo and Charlie where ATIS can be anything from Alpha to Zulu.

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I taste copper.
Comments, views, opinions - and trails of destruction - are my own.

I've heard pilots say "Code Bravo" as well as "Condition Bravo". They aren't real careful about it. It must be something really routine. If it related to a "condition" such as weather, there's no way they would substitute the word "code" however.

Now I really want to know!

Unless the full term is "Condition Code" in which case either Condition or Code would conceivably work.

As I understand ALNW uses less than a handful of people as dispatchers and they're pretty long term folks. If true there isn't as much of a need for precision when they talk to Comm Center as there is with something like public safety where there's a room full of dispatchers who probably haven't even ever met the person on the other end. For contrast, at least 1 pilot and 1 dispatcher at ALNW frequently use first names over the air with each other.

_________________
I taste copper.
Comments, views, opinions - and trails of destruction - are my own.

Many years ago I was a dispatcher for Airlift Northwest and I'm also a pilot. They never used "Condition codes" when I was there and I haven't heard them use them at all. My guess is that they are advising which ATIS (Automated terminal information service, or recorded weather) they have. It is true that ATIS broadcasts could be anything from Alpha to Zulu but certain airports will only use a limited block of them. That prevents two nearby airports from potentially having the same ATIS identifier. It would be bad for both SeaTac and Boeing Field to both be broadcasting "Information Charlie". Pilots could easily listen to the wrong one and have bad information.

Since ALNW tends to fly into and out of BFI the most they are probably using that one.

Of course they might have come up with a new code to advise of their availability status. For example the Coast Guard uses the codes Alpha, Bravo, and Charlie. Alpha means they are actively operating. Bravo means they are not operating but are available. The code will have a number with it. Bravo-2 means they can be underway in 2 hours. Bravo-30 is underway in 30 minutes. Charlie means they are unavailable, usually for maintenance.