General Aviation Accident Prevention Program

U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Aviation Administration


Radio Communications Phraseology And Techniques

FAA-P-8740-47
AFS-800 0385


GENERAL


RADIO TECHNIQUE


CONTACT PROCEDURES


DIRECT COMMUNICATIONS - CONTROLLERS AND PILOTS


AIRCRAFT CALL SIGNS

DESCRIPTION OF INTERCHANGE OR LEASED AIRCRAFT


GROUND STATION CALL SIGNS

Pilots, when calling a ground station, should begin with the name of the facility being called followed by the type of the facility being called, as indicated in the following examples.

Airport Unicom                                                  "Shannon Unicom"
FAA Flight Service Station                                      "Chicago Radio"
FAA FSS (En Route flight Advisory Service (Weather)             "Seattle Flight Watch"
Airport Traffic Control Tower                                   "Augusta Tower"
Clearance Delivery Position (IFR)                               "Dallas Clearance Delivery"
Ground Control Position in Tower                                "Miami Ground"
Radar or NonRadar Approach Control Position                     "Oklahoma City Approach"
Radar Departure Control Position                                "Denver Departure"
FAA Air Route Traffic Control Center                            "Washington Center"


PHONETIC ALPHABET

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) phonetic alphabet is used by FAA personnel when communications conditions are such that the information cannot be readily received without their use. ATC facilities may also request pilots to use phonetic letter equivalents when aircraft with similar sounding identifications are receiving communications on the same frequency. Pilots should use the phonetic alphabet when identifying their aircraft during initial contact with air traffic control facilities. Additionally use the phonetic equivalents for single letters and to spell out groups of letters or difficult words during adverse communications conditions


CHARACTER MORSE CODE TELEPHONY PHONIC (PRONUNCIATION)
A Alfa (AL-FAH) B Bravo (BRAH-VOH) C Charlie (CHAR-LEE) or (SHAR-LEE) D Delta (DELL-TAH) E Echo (ECK-OH) F Foxtrot (FOKS-TROT) G Golf (GOLF) H Hotel (HOH-TEL) I India (IN-DEE-AH) J Juliett (JEW-LEE-ETT) K Kilo (KEY-LOH) L Lima (LEE-MAH) M Mike (MIKE) N November (NO-VEM-BER) O Oscar (OSS-CAH) P Papa (PAH-PAH) Q Quebec (KEH-BECK) R Romeo (ROW-ME-OH) S Sierra (SEE-AIR-RAH) T Tango (TANG-GO) U Uniform (YOU-NEE-FORM) or (OO-NEE-FORM) V Victor (VIK-TAH) W Whiskey (WISS-KEY) X Xray (ECKS-RAY) y Yankee (YANG-KEY) z Zulu (ZOO-LOO) 1 One (WUN) 2 Two (TOO) 3 Three (TREE) 4 Four (FOW-ER) 5 Five (FIFE) 6 Six (SIX) 7 Seven (SEV-EN) 8 Eight (AIT) 9 Nine (NIN-ER) 0 Zero (ZEE-RO)


FIGURES


ALTITUDES AND FLIGHT LEVELS


DIRECTIONS

The three digits of bearing, course, heading or wind direction should always be magnetic. The word "true" must be added when it applies

EXAMPLE:
(magnetic course) 005.............................................ZERO ZERO FIVE

EXAMPLE:
(true course) 050.............................................ZERO FIVE ZERO TRUE

EXAMPLE:
(magnetic bearing) 360.............................................THREE SIX ZERO

EXAMPLE:
(magnetic heading) 100.............................................ONE ZERO ZERO

EXAMPLE:
(wind direction) 220.............................................TWO TWO ZERO


SPEEDS

The separate digits of the speed followed by the word "KNOTS." Except, controllers may omit the word "KNOTS" when using speed adjustment procedures, e.g., "REDUCE/INCREASE SPEED TO TWO FIVE ZERO."

EXAMPLES:
(speed) 25O.............................................TWO FIVE ZERO KNOTS
(speed) 190.............................................ONE NINER ZERO KNOTS

The separate digits of the mach number preceded by "MACH."

EXAMPLES:
(mach number) 1.5.............................................MACH ONE POINT FIVE
(mach number) .64.............................................MACH POINT SIX FOUR
(mach number) .7..............................................MACH POINT SEVEN


TIME


COMMUNICATIONS WITH TOWER WHEN AIRCRAFT TRANSMITTER OR RECEIVER OR BOTH ARE INOPERATIVE

NOTE.-Refer to FAR-91.87 and FAR-91.77.


TRAFFIC CONTROL LIGHT SIGNALS


COMMUNICATIONS FOR VFR FLIGHTS


EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION

EMERGENCY LOCATOR TRANSMITTERS


SEARCH AND RESCUE SATELLITE (SARSAT)

Search and rescue is a lifesaving service provided through the combined efforts of the federal agencies signatory to the national search and rescue plan, and the agencies responsible for search and rescue in each state. Operational resources are provided by the U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Defense components, the Civil Air Patrol, the Coast Guard Auxiliary, state, county, and local law enforcement and other public safety agencies. The introduction of the SARSAT system enhances the effectiveness of search and rescue. SARSAT also amplifies the importance of assuring that your ELT remains silent, except for testing or in an actual emergency. Search and rescue missions launched because of a FALSE ELT signal are costly and unnecessary. Search and rescue services include search for missing aircraft, survival aid, rescue, and emergency medical help for the occupants after an accident site is located.

Check your radio on 121.5 MHz or 243.0 MHz before you leave your aircraft. Your ELT may be transmitting.