OST 24/06/2010

[jan_olieslagers]

I spent an hour or so at EBOS this afternoon, but it was disappointingly calm - I had better gone yesterday...
A nice surprise was the Irish Air Corps Gulfstream "251" - I wondered what wind blew it here.
Strange to observe that Ostend Air college - two SEP's in the training circuit - uses airline style callsigns, like "Air College one one foxtrot". This is not the case for BAFA's PA28's, these always call with their registration. Why the difference?

[Zorba]

I don't know the exact reason, nor if there are any requirements needed to use a specific callsign, but I think it's for prestige only. Could be wrong though

[MiguelBaert]

I'm a student at Ostend Air College and the specific callsign is linked to the 'mission' we fly. Each flight has its specific goals to accomplish and has a certain number. This number is identical to our callsign. The letter at the end is personal per student: each student had its own letter.

I don't know the exact reason why we use this type of callsign, but I think it's about prestige as well.
Another consideration could be that the lower the number of the callsign,the less experienced the student on board, so ATC has a possibility to anticipate less fluent communication to that aircraft. Also the specific words 'Air College' already indicate there is a big possibility a student is flying the plane.