Interesting --- a similar thread going on in the VATSIM forums.
I hate "with you", how about "Good evening XYZ Center, CALLSIGN, FL330"?
Sometimes lately, when the evil streak is present, I have been using a page out of Keith Smith's playbook, and replying "And also with you" (old time Catholics should "get" that...
)
But, more appropriately, the initial contact call should sound more like, "XYZ Center, (Good morning/afternoon/evening/day,) CALLSIGN, POSITION, FLXXX"
From my post on VATSIM a couple of minutes ago:
In "the US Book" (AIM in this case, ref. AIM 5-3-1b(2)) that:
- When coming from a radar environment, initial contact should include altitude information (ref. AIM 5-3-1b(2)(a)), and
- When coming from a nonradar environment (which is certainly the case if coming from uncontrolled airspace), initial contact should include BOTH position and altitude information (ref. AIM 5-3-1b(2)(b))
The only time I have an issue with people not saying their location is when they are requesting clearance and I am working a hand full of airports at once. Even then, a simple "say location" or "where are you at" solves the problem in less than 30 seconds.
When the same evil streak was present, I used to sometimes say, "CALLSIGN, XXX Center, I control 165,000 square miles of airspace that contains 283 airports. Which one of those are you at?"
Luckily as I get older and wiser and mellower, that mean streak comes out less and less....
You are right, it's not a big deal, but it is nice when it's done right, both from the pilot and controller side. I know I appreciate accuracy, when I'm operating on either side of the scope.