scrambled_legs wrote:I'm pretty sure that this is still standard phraseology for our military for friendlies or bandits. Either that or the old guys are teaching the new guys to say it whenever they spot a civilian aircraft or one of their own. Also, Nav Can 1 uses it all the time but then again... that's Nav Can.

Actually there is a fairly important difference between Tally and Visual, as explained in a previous post :

AuxBatOn wrote:Tally means you see a bandit.
Visual means you see a friendly aircraft.

Both are commonly used in Air-Air engagements.


e.g.: "Alphas, bandit left 10 O'Clock, 1 mile, level."
"12 tally"

Unless you plan to shoot down the aircraft you see, I'd use visual...

Having the tally on the wrong guy could get your buddy killed (by your incoming missile). But you're right, we use them every day when fighting a bandit.

If tally is only to be used for bandits, why do we civi guys regularly hear it when passing traffic to a military guy? Not many bandits in our zone... or is there?

Can you be more specific as to which types use it? Personally, I'd never use it, just to keep a good habbit of not calling tally when I should be calling visual.

And yes, tally is ONLY used for bandits in engagements.

Tally or Tally-ho, actually called when can "see" anything not already known as friendly...ie an unkown....
Persnonally, when bringing my formation to initial, everyone else flying around were potential advisaries potentially trying to hit me (ok not on purpose but close enough), so therefore frequently called tally in the traffic pattern but I do acknowledge it is completely "unofficial" terminology when not used in a tactical environment.

I try to use it less at civilian airports but it still comes up out of habit now and again. As more of us mil types move to the civvy world it may come out more. Old habits die hard. Good ones or bad ones.

So I guess Air Canada should be calling "Tally ho!" on West Jet then