Why are the broadcasts “recommended” and not mandatory?
Under the new system, pilots make all the broadcasts necessary to meet the obligation they have under Civil Aviation Regulation (CAR) 166 “to ensure they do not cause a danger to other aircraft being operated in the vicinity of the aerodrome”. Indeed, because the new recommended standard positional radio broadcasts are inherently safer, it is easier for pilots to meet their obligation to operate safely as dictated in CAR 166. The expression “recommended” does not mean optional, rather it describes the operational flexibility of the new standard positional radio broadcasts, which are uniform in phraseology and nominated for use at specific locations in and around the circuit. For example, if radio congestion prevents a pilot from calling a full broadcast at a specific location in the circuit, that broadcast can be abbreviated or even omitted. The pilot simply makes the next broadcast at the next designated circuit location. Pilots are expected to make all of the broadcasts – only operat
