In communication between aircraft stations, who acts as the controlling station?

In aviation communication, the controlling station is typically the aircraft being called. This is because the aircraft being called has the responsibility to respond and manage the communication exchange. It is expected to acknowledge the call and engage in the conversation as necessary, which enables efficient and clear dialogue regarding operational matters such as position reports, intentions, and instructions.

In this scenario, the aircraft initiating the communication refers to the party attempting to make contact, but it relies on the called aircraft to respond. The role of the ground control station is more focused on providing instruction and guidance to the aircraft within its jurisdiction rather than controlling the communication itself. As for any aircraft in the vicinity, while they may be listening to the conversation, they do not have the formal role of a controlling station in the communication sequence. Thus, the aircraft being called serves as the pivotal point in communication, making it the controlling station in this context.