Document
A Guide to phr A seolo G y
F or G e N er A l AV i A tio N pilots i N europe
EGAST
Component of ESSI European General Aviation Safety Team Contents ntroduction & ntroduction & Abbreviations Abbreviations i i
A Guide to Phraseology for
Introduction and Abbreviations 1 F
General Aviation Pilots in Europe
rt Good Radiotelephony Practice ractice p Good General Phraseology 8 1 3 Introduction The priorities for safe flying are ‘Aviate, Navigate, then Communicate’. Whilst this is 15 Departure Phraseology always true, correct standard radiotelephony (RTF) phraseology makes an important contribution to the safe and efficient operation of aircraft. Communication errors Aerodrome Phraseology for Helicopters 5 22 and inappropriate use of phraseology continue to feature as contributory factors in General hraseology p safety-related incidents throughout Europe involving General Aviation (GA) aircraft, Cross Country Flight Phraseology 24 such as AIRPROXES, runway incursions and airspace infringements.
Arrival Phraseology 7 36 To conform to International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Language Proficiency requirements, pilots and others who use radiotelephony communications must have Unattended Aerodrome Phraseology 8 43 achieved a specified level of proficiency in English. GA pilots come from different eparture backgrounds, and some have difficulty learning or remembering how to use RTF hraseology d p Symbols used in RTF examples efficiently. This document provides pilots with a guide in English to common F phraseology used during GA flights in Europe and explains why certain words and rt phrases are used. The aim is to improve safety by helping pilots and ground stations Phraseology used by a pilot communicate clearly.
elicopters Phraseology used by an Air Traffic Controller Phraseology has been developed over time to provide maximum clarity and brevity h in communications. However, while standard phraseology is available to cover most for Phraseology used by an Aerodrome Flight Aerodrome routine situations, not everything can be catered for or remembered. Therefore, Information Service Officer (AFISO) pilots should be prepared to use simple language when necessary, keeping phrases F as clear and concise as possible. Long radio calls with unnecessary information rt waste time and may endanger others.
Audio Flight Cross Country Select this icon to listen to an audio of the RTF phraseology Play The diagram on the inside back cover and photographs on pages 5, 14, 25, 26, Arrival 29, 32, 43 and 44 are from ‘A Reference Guide to UK Phraseology for General hraseology Aviation Pilots’ and are reproduced here by kind permission of the UK Civil p Aviation Authority. The photographs on pages 35 and 40 are reproduced with the permission of David Cockburn, a member of the European General Aviation Safety Team (EGAST). The remaining photographs are reproduced by permission of Jan Fridrich, also of EGAST.
nattended 1 i N trodu C tio N AN d ABB re V i A tio N s u Aerodromes Commonly used Abbreviations This guide incorporates a range of material published by ICAO, Eurocontrol and the UK Civil Aviation Authority. Some States may specify national differences from ACAS* Airborne collision avoidance system ntroduction & ntroduction & the ICAO standard phraseology in the individual State’s Aeronautical Information Abbreviations Abbreviations i i Publication (AIP). Pilots should consult the appropriate AIP(s) when planning AFIS Aerodrome flight information service F international flights.
AFISO Aerodrome flight information service officer rt AIP Aeronautical information publication ractice AMSL Above mean sea level p Good ATC Air traffic control ATIS* Automatic terminal information service ATS Air traffic service ATZ Aerodrome traffic zone General hraseology FIS Flight information service p IMC Instrument meteorological conditions POB Persons on board PTT Press to transmit eparture hraseology d QDM Magnetic heading (assuming no wind) to a VDF station p F QDR Magnetic bearing of aircraft from a VDF station rt QFE Atmospheric pressure at aerodrome level (or runway threshold) Common Abbreviations QNH Altimeter subscale setting to indicate elevation (AMSL) when elicopters A number of common abbreviations are used in this Guide. Those marked in the h on the ground and altitude when in the air following list with an asterisk are normally spoken as a complete word, e.g ‘Ay-tiss’.
for QTE True bearing Aerodrome The remainder are normally spoken using their constituent letters rather than the spelling alphabet, e.g. ‘Vee-dee-eff’.
F RTF Radiotelephony rt RVR Runway visual range SSR Secondary surveillance radar Flight Cross Country VDF Very high frequency direction finding VHF Very high frequency (30 to 300 MHz) VFR Visual flight rules Arrival VOLMET* Meteorological information for aircraft in flight hraseology p nattended 2 i N trodu C tio N AN d ABB re V i A tio N s 3 i N trodu C tio N AN d ABB re V i A tio N s u Aerodromes When you transmit Good Radiotelephony Practice Use a normal conversational tone and speak clearly and distinctly. Do not talk too ntroduction & ntroduction & Abbreviations Abbreviations fast and maintain an even rate of speech – not more than 100 words per minute.
i i Remember the recipient may be writing down parts of the message.
F F Keep the microphone close to your lips but not touching them. Do not hold the rt rt boom of a combined headset/microphone system, as this can distort speech. If ractice ractice p p using a hand-held microphone do not turn your head away from it while speaking.
Good Good Many transmissions contain numbers. A short pause before and after numbers makes them easier for the other person to understand.
Avoid hesitation sounds such as ‘umm’ and ‘er’. Release the transmit button if you need time to think – a controller will normally ask for anything you may have missed.
General hraseology When transmitting a long message, it is helpful to interrupt your transmission from p time to time to confirm that the frequency is clear and allow the recipient to request a repeat of any parts not received.
Use standard phraseology where possible and avoid unnecessary RTF. However plain language is always better than silence or incorrect and potentially confusing phraseology.
eparture hraseology d p Before you transmit F Make sure that the volume and squelch controls on the radio are correctly set. The rt best way to do this is to wait for and listen to another station transmitting on the frequency – ideally the station you are going to call.
elicopters Ensure that the intercom, if fitted, does not drown out radio calls. Make sure that h any headset volume controls are also correctly set and that the microphone boom for Aerodrome stays in its set position.
F Before starting a flight ensure that you can hear others’ transmissions and they can rt hear you. You should also check that you know how to change frequencies and that the frequency selected is the one you want to use first.
Flight Many frequencies are very busy, so after changing frequency wait and listen before Cross Country transmitting. Do not interrupt other transmissions and allow time for any necessary reply from someone else.
Think about what you are going to say before you transmit. When time and other Arrival circumstances permit, try to say the message just to yourself before you press the hraseology p transmit button. This is also known as the press to transmit (PTT).
Depress the transmit button fully before you start to talk. This avoids ‘clipping’ transmissions and the possible loss of important information.
nattended Good r A diotelepho N y p r AC ti C e 4 5 Good r A diotelepho N y p r AC ti C e u Aerodromes After you transmit Do not release the transmit button until after you have finished speaking.
ntroduction & ntroduction & Abbreviations Abbreviations i i A jammed frequency is potentially dangerous. Ensure that you release the transmit button after each transmission. Make sure that a handheld radio or microphone is F F never placed where the transmit button is pressed in, as this will jam the frequency rt rt and no one else will be heard if they transmit. Most radios show a symbol on the ractice ractice p p display (e.g. TX) when transmitting.
Good Good After making a transmission, wait at least 10 seconds before attempting a second call. This will allow the other person time to reply to your first call and helps avoid unnecessary transmissions.
If there is no response to your transmission, check your volume level – for example General you might have been briefing your passengers and turned it down. Alternatively hraseology p increase the squelch (SQ) until you hear the noise and adjust the volume to the expected level.
Always read back any instructions you are given and include your callsign after the information. It is normally best to read back the items in the order given, but there are some exceptions to this. It may help to note down instructions. For more details eparture hraseology see the list of messages to be read back on page 10 of this guide.
d p If you do not understand the instructions you are given, ask for clarification. Never F guess what you are being told to do.
rt elicopters h Listening for Aerodrome Listen carefully to make sure you understand what is said to you - it is easy to hear F what you expect, rather than what is actually said.
rt At all times listen for your callsign and any new instructions or information. As the situation changes you may be given different instructions or new information.
Flight Cross Country Transmissions from other pilots also contain valuable information about their intentions that can help you maintain awareness of the other traffic around you.
Listening out is a useful addition to look-out, particularly in the aerodrome circuit.
Check your radio, especially the position of the transmit button, if there seems a long Arrival break in activity on the frequency.
hraseology p nattended Good r A diotelepho N y p r AC ti C e Good r A diotelepho N y p r AC ti C e 7 u Aerodromes
3 General Phraseology
ntroduction & ntroduction & Abbreviations Abbreviations i i Aircraft Callsigns Unit or service Callsign Suffix Instructions or information F F Pilots either use their aircraft registration, e.g. ‘F-ABCD’, or for many commercial rt rt aircraft a company callsign followed by a number, letters or both, e.g. ‘Blue Skies Air Traffic Control ‘‘GROUND’ ATC service is provided to prevent 347A’. Aircraft registered in some countries may use a registration consisting of ractice ractice (ATC) unit at an ‘TOWER’ collisions between aircraft p p Good Good numbers or letters and numbers.
aerodrome ‘APPROACH’ and on the manoeuvring area ‘ARRIVAL’ between aircraft and obstructions.
Aircraft Callsign Prefixes ‘DEPARTURE’ You should comply with ATC ‘DELIVERY’ instructions unless you advise Where the additional information may help the controller or other pilots, the the controller that you are unable name of the aircraft manufacturer or name of the aircraft model may be used as a to do so. At busy aerodromes prefix to the registration, e.g. ‘Cessna F-DCBA’ or ‘Harvard G-ABCD’. This may be separate controllers may use General General hraseology hraseology especially useful if the aircraft has particular operational characteristics. However different callsigns for different p p tasks as shown you must not change your type of callsign during a flight, unless you are instructed to do so by an air traffic control unit, usually because an aircraft with a similar Radar unit (ATC) ‘RADAR’ Radar unit in general callsign is on the same frequency.
Broadcast Calls Area control ‘CONTROL’ Area control centre Broadcast calls to aircraft operating on a frequency normally start with ‘All stations’. centre (ATC) eparture hraseology d However, when operating at an unattended aerodrome, your transmissions should p start with the aerodrome’s name as shown on pages 43 and 44. Including the F Aerodrome Flight ‘INFORMATION’ AFIS provides pilots with aerodrome name helps other pilots understand where you are.
rt Information information useful for the safe and Ground Station Callsigns Service (AFIS) efficient conduct of aerodrome traffic. An AFISO may relay ATC elicopters Ground stations are identified by the name of the location followed by a word clearances issued by a controller.
h (suffix) indicating the type of unit or the service provided. This will normally be for Aerodrome either air traffic control or flight information service. You must be familiar with the Flight ‘‘INFORMATION’ FIS provides pilots with differences between the services that may be offered and what your own actions Information information useful for the safe and F should be. Examples of ground station callsigns follow.
Service (FIS) efficient conduct of flight. A FISO rt may relay ATC clearances issued Once satisfactory communication has been established and provided that it will by a controller.
not be confusing, the name of the location or the callsign suffix may be omitted, Flight Cross Country e.g. ‘Tower’ or ‘Borton’.
Aeronautical ‘RADIO’ Aeronautical station in general Station Arrival hraseology p nattended G e N er A l phr A seolo G y 8 Ge N er A l p hr A seolo G y 9 u Aerodromes Read back Use of ‘Wilco’ Reading back a clearance and any safety critical information helps both the pilot ‘Wilco’ means ‘I understand your message and will comply’. It should not be used ntroduction & ntroduction & Abbreviations Abbreviations and the controller understand what the aircraft has been instructed to do. It also in place of a full read back of the items on page 10. It may be used for brevity, or i i serves as a check that the right aircraft, and only that aircraft, will take action on where readback of an instruction or part of an instruction might be confused with a F F the clearance. It may help to note down the clearance prior to read back and ask transmission advising completion of the action instructed.
rt rt any other pilots (or an educated passenger) in the aircraft to listen to all clearances, Acknowledgement by Callsign ractice ractice including taxi clearance. If in any doubt you must request clarification.
p p If a transmission contains information that does not need to be read back, you Good Good Items to be Read back should acknowledge by transmitting your callsign. You may also transmit your Messages containing the following must be read back: callsign together with the word ‘roger’, which means ‘I have received all your last transmission’.
• ATC route clearance • SSR codes
• Clearances/instructions to enter, • Level or heading
General General hraseology hraseology p land on, take-off from, hold short of, instructions p cross or backtrack any runway
• Runway in use • Speed instructions
• Altimeter settings • Transition levels
When a read back is required you must ensure it is complete and follow it with eparture hraseology d p your callsign. It is normally best to read back the items in the order given, as this makes it easier for the controller to check the accuracy and identify any missing F rt items. However, there are some exceptions to this, e.g. if departure instructions are transmitted together with a take-off clearance, it may be more logical to read back the take-off clearance first, followed by the departure instructions.
elicopters h for Aerodrome F rt Flight Cross Country Arrival hraseology p nattended Ge N er A l p hr A seolo G y 10 Ge N er A l p hr A seolo G y 11 u Aerodromes Conditional Clearances Transmission of Numbers A conditional clearance allows a pilot to carry out an action only after another For clarity and brevity, numbers used in the transmission of altitude, cloud height, ntroduction & ntroduction & Abbreviations Abbreviations action has taken place. Conditional clearances speed up traffic flow, but you visibility and runway visual range (RVR) information are transmitted as shown below.
i i must follow the instructions carefully and make sure you have identified the F F correct aircraft or vehicle on which the clearance is based. Where there might be Altitude Transmitted as rt rt ambiguity as to the subject of the condition the controller will give additional ractice ractice details such as aircraft type, colour or position in order to help you identify the 800 Eight hundred p p Good Good correct aircraft or vehicle. The structure and order of conditional clearances is 3 400 Three thousand four hundred essential to their safe execution, but if in doubt, you should hold position and ask for clarification.
12 000 One two thousand Conditional clearances consist of: Cloud height Transmitted as General General
hraseology • Aircraft callsign
hraseology 2 200 Two thousand two hundred p p
• Condition
4 300 Four thousand three hundred
• Clearance
Visibility Transmitted as
• Brief reiteration of the condition
1 000 Visibility one thousand Correct and full read back of a conditional clearance is vital. The condition must eparture hraseology d 700 Visibility seven hundred be the first item read back so that the controller is aware that you have heard the p condition on which the clearance is based.
F Runway Visual Range Transmitted as rt 600 RVR six hundred RTF Conditional Clearance elicopters 1 700 RVR one thousand seven hundred h F-CD, behind the landing PA 28 line up behind for Aerodrome Other numbers are transmitted by pronouncing each digit separately, e.g. ‘Blue Skies F Behind the PA 28, lining up behind, F-CD rt two four seven’, ‘runway three two’, ‘heading zero eight zero’, ‘flight level six zero’, Play ‘QNH one zero one zero’ and ‘squawk four two one three’.
Flight Pronunciation of Numbers Cross Country To reduce the possibility of numbers being misheard, the number ‘9’ is transmitted as ‘niner’ in RTF phraseology.
Arrival hraseology p nattended Ge N er A l p hr A seolo G y 12 Ge N er A l p hr A seolo G y 13 u Aerodromes Omitting Words from Transmissions
4 Departure Phraseology
The following words may be omitted from transmissions as described below ntroduction & ntroduction & Abbreviations Abbreviations provided that no confusion will result. However, adding the word ‘degrees’ to any i i Aerodrome with ATC heading ending in zero reduces the risk of headings being confused with flight F F This section provides examples of the RTF typically used by a pilot departing from a levels.
rt rt controlled aerodrome. Make sure you know what kind of service is provided at each ‘Surface’ in relation to surface wind direction and speed aerodrome. Even if the aerodrome has a control tower building, you may not be ractice ractice p p Good Good ‘Degrees’ in relation to radar headings calling during its hours of operation and an ATC service may not be available.
‘Visibility’, ‘cloud’ and ‘height’ in meteorological reports Establishing Communication To reduce the possibility of confusion, you must use the full callsigns of both stations ‘Hectopascals’ when giving pressure settings in your initial call, first saying whom you are calling then who you are.
VHF Frequencies - Use of Six Digits General General Continuing Communication To prevent confusion, you should transmit all 6 digits of a VHF frequency except hraseology hraseology p p where the final two digits of the frequency are both zero in which case only the Once satisfactory communication has been established the ground station may first four digits need to be transmitted, e.g. ‘One two three decimal six’. The word abbreviate callsigns, e.g. ‘F-CD’ or ‘Cessna CD’. To reduce the possibility of confusion ‘decimal’ indicates the position of the decimal point.
with other aircraft on frequency, do not shorten the callsign of your aircraft until after the ground station has shortened it. Only a ground station can shorten your callsign.
Test Transmissions eparture eparture hraseology hraseology d d p p When testing a radio you should follow the format shown in the example on page 16. The format is designed to identify the frequency used and allow the receiving F rt station time to assess the transmission quality. Using the readability scale, ‘5’ means perfectly readable. At the other end of the scale, ‘1’ means unreadable.
elicopters Automatic Terminal Information Service (ATIS) h At aerodromes where departure information is broadcast on an ATIS, the request for for Aerodrome departure information is omitted. When requested to do so on the ATIS broadcast F you should acknowledge receipt of the ATIS information by including the ATIS rt identifying letter in your request for taxi.
Flight Cross Country Arrival hraseology p nattended Ge N er A l p hr A seolo G y 14 d ep A rture p hr A seolo G y 15 u Aerodromes Taxi Clearance Start Up and Taxi RTF All taxi clearances contain a clearance limit, which is the point at which you must ntroduction & ntroduction & Abbreviations Abbreviations stop unless further permission to proceed is given. A taxi clearance in any case is not i i Borton Tower, F-ABCD, radio check 118.725 a clearance to enter the runway or take-off. Sometimes the controller may use the F F additional phrase ‘hold short’ to emphasise a clearance limit or where no defined F-ABCD, Borton Tower, reading you 5 rt rt point, e.g. holding point, exists. Omission of the phrase ‘hold short’ does not mean ractice ractice you have clearance to enter the runway. Taxi clearances can be complicated. Noting F-ABCD, request departure information p p Good Good them down whenever possible helps to prevent runway incursions.
F-CD, runway 24, wind 220 degrees 6 knots, QNH 990, Clearance for Take-off or Landing temperature 2 dewpoint minus 1 In relation to runway movements, and to avoid confusion, the word ‘cleared’ is only Runway 24, QNH 990, F-CD used in connection with a clearance to take-off or land. For other RTF exchanges, words such as ‘cross’, ‘departure’ and ‘approved’ should be used.
General General F-CD, C172 at the south side hangars, request taxi VFR to hraseology hraseology p p Walden, 2 POB* After Departure For the same reason, the words ‘take-off’ are only used when an aircraft is cleared F-CD, taxi to holding point G1 runway 24, QNH 990 for take-off, or when cancelling a take-off clearance. At other times you should use the terms ‘departure’ and ‘airborne’.
Taxi holding point G1 runway 24, QNH 990, F-CD ‘After departure’ is not a clearance to take-off – do not assume you are cleared to Play eparture eparture hraseology hraseology take-off and depart. The expression ‘after departure’ is used when issuing or reading d d p p back departure instructions or route clearances.
* POB (total persons on board and pronounced ‘pee- oh-bee’) may be included, e.g. where a F flight plan is not required and has not been filed rt Hold Position Placing of Callsigns If there is conflicting traffic, the controller may instruct you to ‘hold position’. You elicopters Once satisfactory communication has been established, a message is normally prefixed should always acknowledge an instruction to hold and you must not proceed until h with the aircraft callsign. However, when you need to read back an instruction or the controller calls back with permission. Revised clearances and post-departure for Aerodrome important information the instruction or information is repeated first followed by the instructions may also be prefixed with an instruction from the controller to ‘hold aircraft callsign. This makes it easier for the controller to check that you have received position’, as shown below.
F all of the instruction or information correctly.
rt Clarification of Instructions Flight If you do not fully understand the instructions given, or they are inconsistent with your Cross Country request, you must ask that they are repeated or clarified. The phrase ‘say again’ means repeat the entire message.
Arrival hraseology p nattended d ep A rture p hr A seolo G y 17 16 d ep A rture p hr A seolo G y u Aerodromes Changing Frequency RTF Take-off You will normally be advised by the ground station to change from one radio ntroduction & ntroduction & Abbreviations Abbreviations frequency to another in accordance with agreed procedures. In the absence of i i F-CD, ready for departure, request right turn when airborne such advice, you must notify the ground station before changing frequency, using F F the expression ‘changing to’ followed by the name of the next air traffic service F-CD, hold position. After departure right turn approved climb rt rt unit. However in controlled airspace you must get permission from the controlling not above 1500 feet until the control zone boundary ractice ractice authority before changing frequency.
p p Good Good Holding. After departure right turn approved, not above 1500 feet until the control zone boundary, F-CD F-CD, wind 220 degrees 4 knots, runway 24 cleared for take- off RTF Climb Out RTF Runway 24 cleared for take-off, F-CD General General hraseology hraseology F-CD, contact Borton Approach 118.750 p p Play 118.750, F-CD Borton Approach, F-ABCD, airborne turning right, climbing to Unsure of Position 1200 feet If you are unsure of the position of your aircraft on the aerodrome, you should stop the eparture eparture aircraft and advise the controller, including your last known position. If however you are hraseology hraseology F-CD, Borton Approach, report control zone boundary d d p p on a runway you should advise the controller and vacate the runway before stopping.
F Wilco, F-CD rt F-CD, passing the control zone boundary, 1200 feet elicopters h F-CD, contact Montana Information 125.250 for Aerodrome Montana Information, 125.250, F-CD F Play rt Flight Cross Country Arrival hraseology p nattended d ep A rture p hr A seolo G y 18 d ep A rture p hr A seolo G y 19 u Aerodromes Aerodrome with AFIS RTF Start Up, Taxi and Take-off This section provides examples of the RTF typically used by a pilot departing from an ntroduction & ntroduction & Abbreviations Abbreviations i i aerodrome with an AFISO on duty. An AFISO provides information useful for the safe Walden Information, D-ABCD, radio check 119.725 and efficient conduct of aerodrome traffic. AFIS is not air traffic control and as a pilot F F using the service it is your responsibility to maintain proper spacing in compliance with D-ABCD, Walden Information, reading you 5 rt rt the Rules of the Air.
ractice ractice Walden Information, D-ABCD, request departure information p p Good Good Position Reports An AFISO may request pilots to report at a specified position, as shown in the following D-CD, runway 06 right hand circuit, wind 060 degrees 10 exchange. These are requests, not instructions, but it is expected that pilots will comply knots, QNH 1002 in order to help improve the situational awareness of the AFISO and pilots of other Runway 06 right hand circuit, QNH1002, D-CD aircraft. For safety reasons pilots should always report ‘final’.
General General hraseology hraseology Circuit Direction D-CD, ready to taxi at the pumps, VFR local flight p p The visual circuit direction may be a left hand or a right hand pattern. When planning D-CD, taxiway Charlie available to holding point C1 runway 06 a flight always check the circuit directions at your destination aerodrome. If you are right hand circuit going to fly a right hand pattern you must include this in your transmissions, as shown in the examples on pages 21 and 37 to 39. You need not specify a left hand pattern, Will taxi via taxiway Charlie to holding point C1 runway 06 right hand circuit, D-CD although it is advisable to do so if you are at an aerodrome where the circuit direction Play eparture eparture hraseology is variable and there has been a recent change. If there is any possibility of confusion, hraseology d d p p you should include the circuit direction.
F D-CD, ready for departure rt Parallel Runways D-CD, no reported traffic, runway 06 right hand circuit free for Some aerodromes have parallel runways. These have the same numerical designator departure, wind 090 degrees 8 knots, report airborne elicopters but they are distinguished by adding the word ‘left’ or ‘right’ after the number, e.g.
h ‘Runway 27 left’ and ‘Runway 27 right’. At aerodromes with parallel runways you Runway 06 right hand circuit free for departure, wilco, D-CD for Aerodrome should take extra care and ensure you use the correct runway.
D-CD, airborne departing to the west F rt D-CD, roger, report passing Westfield Flight Report passing Westfield, D-CD Cross Country D-CD, passing Westfield, changing to Arcoville Information Play Arrival hraseology p nattended d ep A rture p hr A seolo G y 20 d ep A rture p hr A seolo G y 21 u Aerodromes
5 Aerodrome Phraseology for Helicopters Helicopter Take-off
You should use the phraseology in the example below when you intend to take-off ntroduction & ntroduction & Abbreviations Abbreviations i i from the runway. Where take-off is to be from another point on the manoeuvring Helicopter Operations area, e.g. a designated helicopter landing area, you should specify the area by F F Subject to the appropriate permission, helicopters may be able to land on or take- transmitting for example, ‘F-HELI, Area Whiskey ready for departure’ and the rt rt off from areas of the aerodrome other than the runway. Therefore it is important controller will preface the take-off clearance with the words ‘Area Whiskey’.
that you make clear in your transmissions which area of the aerodrome you intend ractice ractice p p Good Good to use. This helps improve the situational awareness of the controller and other pilots.
Similarly, if you intend to air taxi you should include the term ‘air taxi’ in your taxi RTF Helicopter Taxi and Take-off from the Runway request.
Operating at Aerodromes with ATC Borton Tower, F-HELI, request air-taxiing from fuel station to General General holding point Runway 06 hraseology hraseology The remainder of this section shows examples of phraseology for use by helicopter p p pilots at an aerodrome with ATC.
F-HELI, Borton Tower, air-taxi direct to holding point H1 runway 06, avoid PA28 on taxiway Bravo Air-taxi direct to holding point H1 runway 06, traffic in sight, F-HELI eparture eparture hraseology hraseology d d p p F-HELI, ready for departure F F F-LI, wind 070 degrees 15 knots, runway 06 cleared for take- rt rt off elicopters elicopters Runway 06 cleared for take-off, F-LI h h Play for Aerodrome for Aerodrome F rt Helicopter Landing When you intend to land on the runway, you should include the runway designator Flight Cross Country in your transmissions and use the phraseology ‘F-LI, final runway 06’.
When you intend to land at another point on the manoeuvring area you should include the name of the area, e.g. ‘F-LI, final Area Whiskey’.
Arrival hraseology p nattended 22 Aerodrome p hr A seolo G y F or h eli C opters Aerodrome p hr A seolo G y F or h eli C opters 23 u Aerodromes Identification by Squawk Cross Country Flight Phraseology Using your transponder helps the controller and the pilots of other aircraft that are fitted with airborne collision avoidance system (ACAS). If you have a transponder, ntroduction & ntroduction & Abbreviations Abbreviations i i Initial Call you should select and transmit the conspicuity code 7000 with Mode C (altitude When establishing contact your initial call should consist of your callsign and that F F reporting) unless another code is appropriate or the controller instructs you rt rt of the unit you are calling. Normally the ground station will reply with your callsign otherwise, as shown in the example below. Occasionally, controllers may give you followed by its own. You should then reply with the necessary information to advise vectors to help establish the identification of your aircraft.
ractice ractice p p Good the ground station of your position, intentions and service required.
Good To make it easier for the recipient who will be expecting the information in a standard format you should reply with the information in the order shown below: Squawking RTF
• Aircraft callsign and type
Montana Control, F-ABCD General General
• Flight rules, and departure and destination aerodromes
hraseology hraseology p p F-ABCD, Montana Control
• Position
F-ABCD, C172 VFR from Walden to Borton, 2 miles north of Flight level or altitude, including passing level and cleared level if not in
•
Wicken, flight level 50, Seatown 08, Weston 22 level flight Additional details, e.g. next way point with time, subsequent planned
• F-CD, squawk 2433
route eparture eparture hraseology hraseology d d p Squawk 2433, F-CD p F F F-CD, identified 2 miles north of Wicken. Next report at RTF rt rt Initial Call RTF Seatown Arcoville Information, F-ABCD elicopters Wilco, F-CD elicopter h h F-ABCD, Arcoville Information for Play Aerodrome Aerodrome F-ABCD, C172 VFR from Walden to Borton, 15 miles south of F F Eastville, 2500 feet, Seatown 55, Eastwick 06, Weston 19 rt rt Play Flight Flight Cross Country Cross Country Arrival hraseology p nattended 24 25 C ross C ou N try F li G ht phr A seolo G y Cross Cou N try Fli G ht phr A seolo G y u Aerodromes Avoiding Action When a controller at a radar unit considers that an imminent risk of collision will exist if action is not taken immediately, the controller will provide avoiding action ntroduction & ntroduction & Abbreviations Abbreviations i i in the form of radar vectors as shown in the examples below. Information on conflicting traffic is given in the form of relative bearing of the conflicting traffic in F F terms of the 12 hour clock, your distance from the conflicting traffic, the direction rt rt of flight of the conflicting traffic followed by any other pertinent information where ractice ractice known, such as its general speed, aircraft type and level and whether climbing or p p Good Good descending.
RTF Avoiding Action F-CD, turn left immediately heading 340 to avoid unidentified General General hraseology hraseology traffic one o’clock 5 miles opposite direction slow moving p p Traffic Information Left heading 340, F-CD Controllers also provide traffic information on other aircraft in your vicinity to assist with your situational awareness in circumstances where immediate action is not necessary. The phrase ‘looking out’ acknowledges the traffic information and tells F-CD, turn right 40 degrees immediately, to avoid unidentified the controller that you are looking for the other traffic. The controller may ask if you eparture eparture hraseology traffic one o’clock 5 miles opposite direction, fast moving hraseology d d p p need radar vectors, as shown below. When you have located the other traffic you should advise the controller by transmitting ‘traffic in sight’. If you cannot locate the F F Right 40 degrees, F-CD rt rt other traffic you should advise the controller using the phrase ‘negative contact’.
You can request radar vectors by transmitting ‘negative contact, request vectors’.
Play elicopters elicopter h Use of Immediately h The word ‘immediately’ is only used in RTF transmissions when immediate action for Aerodrome Aerodrome Traffic Information RTF is required for safety reasons.
F F D-CD, traffic 2 o’clock 5 miles northbound, Cherokee at 2000 rt rt feet Looking out, D-CD Flight Flight Cross Country Cross Country D-CD, do you want vectors?
D-CD, negative vectors, traffic in sight Arrival hraseology p D-CD Play nattended Cross Cou N try Fli G ht phr A seolo G y 26 C ross C ou N try F li G ht phr A seolo G y 27 u Aerodromes VFR Position Reports Activating Flight Plans Position reports provide valuable situational awareness information for the As the aircraft pilot you are responsible for filing a flight plan in specified controller and other pilots. In order to help the controller and other pilots on the circumstances. In addition you are responsible for activating and closing the flight ntroduction & ntroduction & Abbreviations Abbreviations i i frequency you should provide the following elements in the standard order. plan in the following circumstances: F F
• Aircraft callsign
Departure is from an aerodrome with an air traffic service unit, but the
•
rt rt flight is outside their normal hours of operation
• Position
ractice ractice p p Flight level or altitude including passing level and cleared level if not in Good Good
• Departure is from an aerodrome without an air traffic service unit
•
level flight
• Departure is from a private air strip
Having filed the flight plan on-line, by fax or telephone, you need to activate it once airborne. This can be done by a responsible person telephoning the flight briefing RTF VFR Position Reports unit at the appropriate parent air traffic service unit as soon as you are airborne General General hraseology hraseology and passing a departure time. Alternatively, you may ask an air traffic service unit to D-CD, overhead Wicken, leaving 2500 feet climbing to flight p p level 50 activate the flight plan for you.
Play Activating a Flight Plan (assumes communication already established) RTF Transmission of time eparture eparture D-CD, request activate flight plan. D-ABCD departed Borton When transmitting time only the minutes of the hour are normally required and hraseology hraseology d d for Seaville at 38 p p each digit is pronounced separately. However the hour should be included where F F any possibility of confusion is likely to arise.
D-CD, departure time 38, flight plan activated rt rt Play elicopters elicopter h h for Aerodrome Aerodrome F F rt rt Flight Flight Cross Country Cross Country Arrival hraseology p nattended Cross Cou N try Fli G ht phr A seolo G y 28 29 C ross C ou N try F li G ht phr A seolo G y u Aerodromes Closing a Flight Plan Requesting Weather Information If you are landing at an aerodrome in another country, or at an aerodrome Useful weather information in the form of reports, forecasts or warnings is provided which was not your planned destination, you must close the flight plan to avoid either by broadcast systems, e.g. ATIS, VOLMET, or by specific transmissions from ntroduction & ntroduction & Abbreviations Abbreviations i i unnecessary search and rescue activity. Even if you land at an aerodrome with an ground stations as shown below.
F F ATS unit, it is wise to confirm they have closed your flight plan. You may do this by rt rt radio just before landing (as shown below) or by telephone after landing.
Weather Request ractice ractice RTF p p Good Good RTF Closing a Flight Plan Walden Approach, F-ABCD, request Walden weather D-CD, request close flight plan. D-ABCD arrived Borton at 30, F-CD, Walden Approach, present weather wind 360 degrees 5 original destination Seaville knots, visibility 20 kilometres, few 2500 feet, QNH 1008 D-CD, arrival time 30, flight plan closed General General QNH 1008, F-CD hraseology hraseology p p Play Play Changing from IFR to VFR Flight Weather Avoidance During a flight a pilot may change from IFR to VFR flight.
Weather does not always do what the forecasts predict and it can deteriorate very eparture eparture fast. For a VFR pilot, it is important to recognise cloud ahead early enough to avoid hraseology hraseology d d p p it. If you are receiving an air traffic control service you should advise the controller of RTF Changing from IFR to VFR F F the situation and request an alternative level or route.
rt rt Montana, F-CD, request cancel my IFR flight, proceeding VFR Your first priority as always is to fly the aircraft.
estimating Borton at 1701 elicopters elicopter h F-CD, IFR flight cancelled at 35, contact Montana Information h 125.750 for Aerodrome Aerodrome Play RTF Unable to Maintain VMC F F rt rt F-CD, unable maintain VMC due cloud over Seaville, request If the controller has any meteorological information which suggests that flight turn left to Littletown under VFR may not be possible, the controller will transmit this. You may then Play choose to continue IFR.
Flight Flight Cross Country Cross Country Arrival hraseology p nattended 30 31 Cross Cou N try Fli G ht phr A seolo G y C ross C ou N try F li G ht phr A seolo G y u Aerodromes Navigational Assistance: Very High Frequency Direction Finding Navigational Assistance: Lost (VDF) Immediately that you suspect that you are lost make a note of the time and, if you A VDF station can provide you with various types of navigational information on are in touch with an ATC unit, request assistance. If you are also short of fuel, or are ntroduction & ntroduction & Abbreviations Abbreviations i i request. These include the magnetic heading to steer (assuming no wind) to reach experiencing other additional problems, you should declare a PAN as described on the VDF station (QDM), the magnetic bearing of the aircraft from the VDF station F F the back cover of this guide. However, an early call for assistance will often prevent rt rt (QDR) and the true bearing of the aircraft from the VDF station (QTE).
the situation becoming more serious.
ractice ractice p p Good When requesting a bearing you should end the transmission by repeating your Good callsign. This lengthens the transmission and helps to confirm that the correct RTF Lost information is given to the correct aircraft. If the transmission has been too short for Approach, D-CD, 2000 feet heading 190 degrees, unsure of the VDF station to obtain a bearing, you may be asked to transmit again and given my position, request heading to Walden specific instructions about the length of the transmission, e.g. you may be asked to transmit for bearing or give a short count.
D-CD, Approach, fly heading 160 degrees, your position 6 General General hraseology hraseology miles north of Walden p p The accuracy of the bearing is classified as follows: Heading 160 degrees, D-CD Class A – accurate within plus or minus 2 degrees; Play Class B – accurate within plus or minus 5 degrees; Class C – accurate within plus or minus 10 degrees; eparture eparture Class D – accuracy less than Class C.
hraseology hraseology d d p p F F rt rt RTF Requesting VDF elicopters elicopter h Borton Approach, D-ABCD, request QDM (or QDR), D-ABCD h for Aerodrome Aerodrome D-ABCD, Borton Approach, QDM (or QDR) 090 degrees, class F F Bravo rt rt Class Bravo 090 degrees, D-ABCD Flight Flight Play Cross Country Cross Country Arrival hraseology p nattended 33 32 Cross Cou N try Fli G ht phr A seolo G y C ross C ou N try F li G ht phr A seolo G y u Aerodromes Crossing Controlled Airspace If you are planning to fly through controlled airspace, you will need to obtain clearance to enter it, and will need to follow ATC instructions. You must make the ntroduction & ntroduction & Abbreviations Abbreviations i i initial call in good time (normally at least 5 minutes) and as part of your request you F F should advise the controller where you plan to enter the airspace and at what time.
rt rt To make this easier you should work these out as part of your pre-flight planning.
ractice ractice p p Good Good RTF Requesting Crossing Clearance Seaville Radar, F-ABCD General General hraseology hraseology F-ABCD, Seaville Radar p p F-ABCD C172, VFR from Walden to Borton, 15 miles south of Eastville,1500 feet. Seatown 25. Request cross Seaville Zone from Seatown to Eastwick F-CD, squawk 3651 eparture eparture hraseology hraseology d d p p Squawk 3651, F-CD F F rt rt F-CD, enter Seaville Zone, via Seatown, route to Eastwick VFR, not below 2000 feet QNH 1007 elicopters elicopter h Enter Seaville Zone, via Seatown, route to Eastwick VFR, not Unable to Comply with Clearance h below 2000 feet QNH 1007, F-CD for Aerodrome Aerodrome If the clearance is different from your intended route or altitude, make sure you can Play follow it safely. If you cannot do so, you must advise the controller and explain why.
F F Depending on circumstances, it may be possible for the controller to amend the rt rt clearance or you may have to hold or route round.
Flight Flight Cross Country Cross Country RTF Unable to Comply with Clearance F-CD, unable comply due cloud at 2000 feet, request 1500 feet Arrival hraseology Play p nattended 34 Cross Cou N try Fli G ht phr A seolo G y 35 C ross C ou N try F li G ht phr A seolo G y u Aerodromes Timing of Initial Call
Arrival Phraseology 7
You should make your initial call in sufficient time (normally at least 5 minutes is required) to allow a planned entry into the circuit, and where applicable the ntroduction & ntroduction & Abbreviations Abbreviations i i Aerodrome with ATC Aerodrome Traffic Zone (ATZ), or controlled airspace. You must also take account of other traffic in the vicinity. All clearances contain a clearance limit, which is the point This section provides examples of the RTF typically used by a pilot arriving at a F F that you must not pass unless further permission to proceed is given.
rt rt controlled aerodrome. The examples in this section are for a right hand circuit and show the pilot carrying out a normal visual circuit and landing.
ractice ractice p p Good Good Arrival and Radio Failure Procedures RTF Inbound for Join Not all aerodromes have the same radio failure procedures. If your destination aerodrome publishes radio failure procedures, you should make yourself familiar Borton Approach, F-ABCD with these when planning the flight and expect to follow them unless ATC instruct otherwise. Details of individual aerodromes and heliports can be found in each F-ABCD, Borton Approach General State’s AIP.
General hraseology hraseology p p F-ABCD, Seneca VFR from Walden, 2500 feet, 8 miles Receipt of ATIS Broadcast west of the control zone boundary, for landing at Borton, If an ATIS is provided, you should listen early, write down the details and Information Golf acknowledge receipt of the broadcast in the initial call, as shown in the following example. If the aerodrome does not have ATIS, the controller will transmit the F-CD enter Borton Control Zone proceed to Borton VFR, runway 34 right hand circuit, QNH 1012, traffic southbound aerodrome information which you should read back in the usual way.
Cherokee 2000 feet VFR eparture eparture hraseology hraseology d d p p Enter Borton Control Zone, cleared to Borton VFR, runway 34 F F right hand circuit QNH 1012, traffic in sight, F-CD rt rt F-CD, report aerodrome in sight elicopters elicopter h Wilco, F-CD h for Aerodrome Aerodrome F-CD, aerodrome in sight F F rt rt F-CD, contact Borton Tower 118.7 Borton Tower 118.7, F-CD Flight Flight Cross Country Cross Country Play Arrival Arrival hraseology hraseology p p nattended 37 36 A rri VA l phr A seolo G y A rri VA l phr A seolo G y u Aerodromes Circuit and Landing RTF Joining the Circuit Having joined the circuit you should make reports as required by local procedures.
If you are planning to make a touch and go or low approach and go-around, it is ntroduction & ntroduction & Abbreviations Abbreviations i i Borton Tower, F-ABCD useful to advise the controller as part of the downwind call, e.g. ‘F-CD, downwind F F touch and go’. This helps the controller and other pilots plan ahead. If you do not F-ABCD, Borton Tower rt rt state your intentions, the controller will assume that you intend to land, as shown in the example.
ractice ractice F-ABCD, 5 miles north of Borton 2000 feet for landing.
p p Good Good The runway designator is not normally included with a position call, but if there is F-CD, proceed via overhead to join right hand downwind any possibility of confusion, e.g. more than one runway is in use or there has been a runway 34, QNH 1012 recent runway change, you should include the designator.
Proceed via overhead to join right hand downwind runway 34, QNH 1012, F-CD General General hraseology hraseology p RTF Circuit and Landing p F-CD, overhead 1500 feet F-CD, right hand downwind F-CD, report descending F-CD, number 2, follow Cherokee on right base F-CD Number 2, traffic in sight, F-CD eparture eparture hraseology hraseology d d F-CD, descending p p F-CD, right base F F F-CD, report right hand downwind runway 34 rt rt F-CD, report final F-CD elicopters F-CD elicopter h Play h for Aerodrome Aerodrome F-CD, final Calls in the Circuit F F F-CD, continue approach, vehicle crossing rt rt It is particularly important that RTF calls when joining and flying in the visual circuit are made in the correct positions. A diagram showing the visual circuit and the Continue approach, F-CD positions at which you should make your calls is on the back inside cover of this Flight Flight F-CD, runway 34 cleared to land, wind 310 degrees 7 knots Cross Country Cross Country leaflet.
Runway 34, cleared to land, F-CD Play Arrival Arrival hraseology hraseology p p nattended 38 A rri VA l phr A seolo G y 39 A rri VA l phr A seolo G y u Aerodromes Continue Approach Vacating the Runway ‘Continue approach’ is not a clearance to land. If the runway is obstructed when To avoid confusion with clearances to land or take-off, you should use the expression you report final, but it is expected to be available in good time for you to make a ‘vacated’ when taxiing off the runway.
ntroduction & ntroduction & Abbreviations Abbreviations i i safe landing, the controller will delay landing clearance by issuing the instruction The runway is vacated when the whole aircraft is beyond the relevant runway F F to continue your approach.
holding position. Make sure you understand the taxiway markings and do not stop rt rt If you are following another aircraft, and the runway is expected to be available before the runway holding point.
ractice ractice within a few seconds, the controller may change the word order and transmit the p p Go Around Initiated by ATC Good Good surface wind followed by your landing clearance.
In order to avert an unsafe situation, a controller may instruct you to carry out a ‘go around’ using the phraseology shown below. If time permits it, the controller may add the reason for the instruction. You should read back the instruction and, RTF Vacating the Runway if operating under VFR, you should continue into the normal traffic circuit, unless instructed otherwise.
F-CD, taxi to the end, report runway vacated General General hraseology hraseology p p Taxi to the end, wilco, F-CD F-CD, runway vacated RTF Go around initiated by ATC F-CD, taxi to the flying club via taxiway Kilo F-CD, go around, aircraft on the runway eparture eparture hraseology hraseology d d Going around, F-CD p Taxi to the flying club via taxiway Kilo, F-CD p F F Play Play rt rt elicopters Go Around Initiated by the Pilot elicopter h h In the event that you need to initiate a go-round for any reason, you should use the for Aerodrome Aerodrome phrase ‘going around’ to advise the controller and other pilots in the circuit.
F F rt rt RTF Go around Initiated by the Pilot Flight Flight Cross Country Cross Country F-CD, going around F-CD, roger, report downwind runway 05 Arrival Arrival Wilco, F-CD hraseology hraseology p p Play nattended 40 A rri VA l phr A seolo G y A rri VA l phr A seolo G y 41 u Aerodromes Aerodrome with AFISO on Duty
8 Unattended Aerodrome Phraseology
This section provides examples of the RTF typically used by a pilot arriving at an ntroduction & ntroduction & Abbreviations Abbreviations i i aerodrome with an AFISO on duty. The examples in this section show the pilot Operations outside the hours of ATS carrying out a left base join and landing.
At some aerodromes operations may take place outside the promulgated hours F F of watch of the air traffic service unit. To improve safety, you should broadcast Joining Information rt rt information on your position and intentions to other aircraft that may be operating An AFISO will provide joining information, not instructions, and you should position ractice ractice on or in the vicinity of the aerodrome.
p p your aircraft accordingly.
Good Good As some aerodromes share frequencies, you should include the name of the aerodrome in your transmissions. At unattended aerodromes including the runway RTF Left Base Join and Landing designator of the runway you intend to use is particularly helpful to other pilots.
Walden Information, D-ABCD General General hraseology hraseology p p D-ABCD, Walden Information RTF Taxiing and Departure D-ABCD, C152 over Seatown, 1800 feet, for landing Lexington Aerodrome, HB-CDA, taxiing runway 09 D-CD, runway 27, wind 260 5 knots, temperature 15, QNH Lexington Aerodrome, HB-CDA, lining up for departure 1004, no reported traffic, report left base runway 09 eparture eparture hraseology hraseology d d p Runway 27, QNH 1004, wilco, D-CD p Lexington Aerodrome, HB-CDA, airborne departing north F F D-CD, left base Play rt rt D-CD, report final elicopters elicopters h h D-CD Play for for Aerodrome Aerodrome F F D-CD, final rt rt D-CD, runway 27 free for landing, wind 260 5 knots Flight Flight Cross Country Cross Country Runway 27 free for landing, D-CD D-CD, runway vacated Arrival Arrival hraseology D-CD, taxiway Alpha available to the flying club hraseology p p Will taxi to the flying club, via taxiway Alpha, D-CD Play nattended nattended 42 A rri VA l phr A seolo G y 43 u NA tte N ded A erodrome phr A seolo G y u u Aerodromes Aerodromes Aerodrome Traffic Circuit ntroduction & Abbreviations i F rt ractice p Good General hraseology p Left-Hand Circuit Position 1: Aircraft reports on ‘ Downwind ’ leg.
Position 2 : Aircraft reports ‘ Late downwind’ if it is on the downwind leg, has been Arrival Transmissions unable to report ‘ Downwind ’ and has passed the downwind end of the runway.
Your initial call should be made in good time, normally 5 minutes before you reach the aerodrome.
Position 3 : Aircraft reports ‘ Base ’ leg (if required).
eparture hraseology d The arrival transmissions shown here are examples relating to a normal traffic Position 4 : Aircraft reports ‘ Final ’ . Clearance to land issued here.
p pattern and pilots should be prepared to make, omit or adapt calls as necessary F Position 5 : Pilot reports ‘ Long final ’ (between 8 and 4 miles) when aircraft is on a depending on the situation and any other traffic in the vicinity. At unattended rt straight in approach.
aerodromes including the runway designator of the runway you intend to use is particularly helpful to other pilots.
elicopters © European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation (EUROCONTROL). All Rights Reserved h and for © European General Aviation Safety Team (EGAST), 2010. All Rights Reserved.
Aerodrome RTF Arrival This document is jointly published by EGAST and EUROCONTROL in the interest of safety F information exchange. Reproduction is authorised, provided the source is acknowledged, Lexington Aerodrome, HB-CDA, overhead 2000 feet , joining rt save where otherwise stated.
righthand downwind runway 09 The information contained in this document may not be modified without prior written Flight authorisation from EGAST and EUROCONTROL.
Lexington Aerodrome, HB-CDA, righthand downwind runway Cross Country To the maximum extent permitted by law, EUROCONTROL, EGAST and its member Organisations are not liable for any loss or damage arising from the use, or display of the Lexington Aerodrome, HB-CDA, right base runway 09 materials of this document. This disclaimer is not intended to limit the liability of EGAST in contravention of any requirements laid down in applicable national law or to exclude its Lexington Aerodrome, HB-CDA, final runway 09 liability for matters which may not be excluded under that law.
Arrival hraseology p The information contained should not be relied upon as a statement, as any form of warranty, Play representation, undertaking, contractual, or other commitment binding in law upon EGAST or EUROCONTROL.
An interactive version of this document is available in electronic format at www.eurocontrol.int/safety and http://easa.europa.eu/essi/egastEN.html nattended u NA tte N ded A erodrome phr A seolo G y 44 u Aerodromes
Emergency Messages
Pilots should seek assistance whenever there is any doubt about the safety of a flight. An early call may prevent serious problems later.
The word ‘MAYDAY’ identifies a distress message transmit- ted because there is serious and/or imminent danger which requires immediate assistance. The words ‘PAN PAN’ identify an urgency message, concerning the safety of an aircraft or other vehicle, or of some person on board or within sight, but not requiring immediate assistance.
Pilots should stop using any frequency on which distress or urgency messages are being transmitted, until the emergency has been terminated.
To help controllers to give maximum assistance, the emergency message should contain as much of the following information as possible, ideally in the order given. However you may need to change the phraseology to fit your specific needs and the time available.
‘MAYDAY / MAYDAY / MAYDAY’ or a) ‘PAN PAN / PAN PAN / PAN PAN’ Name of the station addressed b) Callsign of the aircraft c) Nature of the emergency d) Intention of the person in command e) Position (present or last known), level and heading of the f ) aircraft Any other useful information g)