Questions tagged [phraseology]
Questions about standard words and phrases used by pilots and ATC in radio communications
125
questions
15
votes
1answer
2k views
How do I request a frequency change to listen to ATIS?
If I only have one radio, and I'm using VFR Flight Following, what do I tell ATC when I want to pick up ATIS for the landing airport before I'm told to contact the tower?
10
votes
3answers
2k views
What is the exact meaning of "manoeuvring" when said by ATC in reference to traffic?
In the UK, when receiving a basic service, sometimes the ATC unit passes traffic information. They may say it like this:
“Traffic to your three o'clock, similar level, C172 manoeuvring.”
What ...
8
votes
2answers
2k views
What does ATC mean when they say "no longer a factor"?
During radar vectors, the ATCo informed to the pilot, "no longer a factor." Please, can you clarify to me what this radio transmission means?
3
votes
2answers
538 views
What are the meanings of these terms used in ATC ground communications?
Regarding ATC ground communications, what/who are the following callees? Are these aircraft, or vehicles, or people?
[Airline name] maintenance
[Airline name] tug
[Airline name] mechanic
1
vote
4answers
198 views
The ATC is unable to provide radar service to pilots, what's the standard way to inform this?
Nowadays, ATC provides radar services to pilots, such as: vectors and surveillance, however, depending on the radar status, it can be out of service; on initial call the controller will inform the ...
8
votes
3answers
2k views
Flight Levels shall be transmitted by pronouncing each digit separately. And how should be FL200 transmitted?
It is a huge doubt I have, because I have seen on CAP 413, FL 200, transmitted as flight Level two hundred, and how should then transmit it on Europe (out of UK) and on The USA airspace?
13
votes
4answers
3k views
What is the difference between “affirm” and “acknowledged”?
Recently, I've watched Air Force One and I heard ATC and the pilots say "Acknowledged." instead of "affirm" or "affirmative" as I've learned..
Is it common to say both? ...
0
votes
1answer
202 views
"Turn right, report heading"?
I can't say anything about authenticity, but here is a quote
Tower: “Delta Zulu Romeo, turn right now and report your heading.”
Pilot: “Wilco. 341, 342, 343, 344, 345…”
Is such an instruction even ...
0
votes
3answers
186 views
Taxi to spot?? Hot spot? What is meant by this?
I heard ground controller at KPHL say taxi to spot so and so?
What do they mean by this during taxi procedures.
1
vote
2answers
328 views
What does "Request Boxing Vectors" means?
I have heard on a request from a pilot: "- Request boxing vectors!"
What's the meaning of this non standard phraseology?
0
votes
2answers
163 views
What are the other clearance and instructions that must be read back? [duplicate]
The following items must always be read back:
ATC route clearances;
clearances and instructions to enter, land on, take off from, hold short of, cross or backtrack on any runway; and
runway-in-use, ...
17
votes
2answers
3k views
How do I know how to describe my position on the airport when I contact ATC?
When asking for taxi clearance, a pilot must include his location when contacting ATC. However, I'm not quite sure exactly how to state your position in the airport.
For example, I've heard some ...
6
votes
2answers
266 views
What is the German / European equivalent of FAA Order 7110.65?
FAA Order 7110.65 prescribes air traffic control procedures and phraseology for use by personnel providing ATC services in the USA.
Which documents regulate these aspects in Germany, or, more ...
3
votes
4answers
719 views
What is the phraseology when leaving a TRSA?
When leaving TRSA what is the correct phraseology to tell ATC that radar service is no longer desired?
1
vote
3answers
156 views
What is the proper phraseology for a clearance with a named obstacle departure procedure?
The Phoenix Mesa-Gateway Airport (KIWA) has a named obstacle departure procedure - the Phoenix Departure.
What's the correct phraseology for when clearance assigns it to you? Is it "N123AB, cleared ...
32
votes
4answers
9k views
Why are there many pilots who don't say "mayday, mayday, mayday" to declare an emergency?
I've been listening to some ATC from some major commercial pilots and in every video where there's been some confusion about declaring an emergency they've used some terminology other than "mayday, ...
5
votes
1answer
530 views
What terminologies are used when ATC instructs a pilot to stop or proceed with his transmission?
If some pilot forgets to release his mic button, distracting everyone on the frequency, what terminology can be used by an ATC to stop it?
And if another pilot stop transmitting his message until the ...
15
votes
2answers
7k views
What is the correct way for pilots to say the time?
While listening to Air Crash Investigations, the pilots used the 24-hour format in a different way than we do.
Example: 07:57 hrs would be said as oh-seven-five-seven hours (which makes it a little ...
2
votes
1answer
275 views
Is there an order for the instructions of a go-around?
Scenario: Aircraft on final is approaching the threshold. A departing aircraft is slow to roll and ATC must issue a go-around instruction.
ATC: PULL UP AND GO AROUND. TURN LEFT HEADING 360 MAINTAIN ...
2
votes
0answers
171 views
Is "margin final" an ATC instruction in USA?
I was south-east of the airport and the active runway was 24. The ATC said, "Make straight in and remain south." And then he said, "Margin final, cleared [to] land."
What is margin final? I'm an ...
3
votes
2answers
371 views
How do I request a touch and go and then remain closed traffic?
When I first contact a tower to request touch-and-go, if I want to remain closed traffic after the touch-and-go, can I say
'...tower, call sign, location, inbound for touch-and-go and remain closed ...
6
votes
2answers
437 views
Are there different sub-types of a mayday call and do pilots use them when declaring emergencies?
I was reading this pilot's quote from the Northwest Airlines Flight 85 incident:
"This was a classic application of CRM. We were blessed and lucky that
we had full flight crew augmentation. We ...
2
votes
2answers
962 views
What is the proper ICAO phraseology to activate a flight plan?
OK, so you have a flight plan filed (over internet, phone, company or however), go to the aircraft and get in the cockpit. So you call the controller and request IFR or VFR as appropriate.
What is ...
2
votes
2answers
703 views
Is any readback required when ATC uses the phrase "RADAR CONTACT"? [duplicate]
As the title says, is a readback required? I've heard some people say that it's not required, while some others say we should readback our call sign only. Some even say just push the transmission knob ...
4
votes
3answers
373 views
What is the meaning of "Steer 1-2-0" in WWII texts?
I am reading some texts about WWII and English operators tell the pilots to "Steer 1-2-0". Can anyone help with the meaning of 'steer' here? Is it a synonym of 'direction', 'heading' or 'vector'?
2
votes
1answer
347 views
How to correctly interpret the taxi procedures in ICAO Doc 4444?
I have a question to ICAO Doc4444, Chapter 12.3.4.7, Taxi procedures for departure, c).
My question is how to interpret the following, knowing that words in parentheses are mandatory, and words in ...
7
votes
1answer
283 views
Why would ATC issue a takeoff clearance and also tell the same aircraft to maintain visual separation at the same time?
I heard this from the Phoenix Sky Harbor airport tower years ago on a sunny and hot day.
Is it because the controller is able to take off aircraft more quickly by putting the responsibility on pilots ...
7
votes
2answers
848 views
What does "<aircraft type> X miles in trail, runway 25R cleared to land" mean?
I was listening to the LiveATC Phoenix North Tower feed as he was clearing aircraft to land. He said something like "Southwest fifteen sixty five, Phoenix Tower, (aircraft type), X miles in trail, ...
1
vote
2answers
3k views
When is 'heavy' used in callsign?
I have heared at ATC communication that some aircraft uses a heavy word in the call sign.
What does heavy means?
When it is used?
Is it used when aircraft is heavier than 200-300 tons?
1
vote
2answers
635 views
What is the correct phraseology to request a climb?
If you'd like to request a climb to a higher flight level while cruising, which do you think is a more proper way to request it:
Request to climb FL350
Request climb FL350
I know they have zero ...
7
votes
2answers
1k views
How unusual were MH370's final ATC exchanges?
There are 2 noteworthy occurrences in the ATC radio transcript within just minutes of a 3rd noteworthy, quite unprecedented occurrence in aviation history:
At 01:07:55 MH370 unnecessarily reported ...
5
votes
4answers
9k views
Are the ICAO phonetic numbers used anywhere?
I ran across a table of ICAO (NATO) approved phonetic number pronunciations. As early as I can remember (50+yrs) in the United States "nin-er" is the only one I ever remember hearing in aviation and I ...
15
votes
1answer
3k views
What is the correct phraseology for "runway 03 R”?
What phraseology is normally used for "runway 03 R" by air-traffic control and pilots?
A couple of possible options I came up with:
runway zero three R
runway three R
runway zero three right
runway ...
8
votes
1answer
310 views
How do I properly report sighting a drone or hobby UAV to ATC?
How would one go about reporting a drone (hobby UAV) sighted in the airspace of an airport on frequency, specifically to Tower?
For example: I am doing patterns around the airport when to the ...
0
votes
1answer
128 views
How does ATC ask a pilot to resume flying a published SID / STAR? [duplicate]
Let's say that you are cleared for and are flying the ZZOOO2 departure out of KSAN and you get vectored off of the departure before you complete it.
At some point, ATC wants to put you back onto the ...
7
votes
2answers
4k views
What does a pilot mean when he tells ATC that he "has the numbers"?
What does "have the numbers" mean when talking to ATC?
6
votes
3answers
523 views
Should I inform ATC about minor deviations to maintain VFR while on practice instrument approaches?
When talking to approach control for the purpose of performing practice instrument approaches in VMC with a safety pilot, the pilot (and safety pilot) is required to "maintain VFR." However, the pilot ...
4
votes
1answer
398 views
How far are shortened replies to ATC allowed to go?
Pilots often use non-standard-phraseology for readbacks. Some examples:
ATC: DLM, switch to tower, 121.2
P: tower, for DLM
or
ATC: DLM, identified, climb via the RIDA9 departure
P: ...
1
vote
3answers
694 views
What is the ATC phraseology to request a parallel track?
What is the correct phraseology to request a parallel track due to weather for example?
Something like:
OE-DLM, request parallel track to the east, 2 nm
Background: I am asking for non-airline ...
12
votes
4answers
3k views
What does it mean when ATC says "altitude indicates"?
I've noticed that ATC sometimes calls out traffic (a traffic advisory?) to aircraft using the "altitude indicates" phraseology, and sometimes a specific altitude is given without the phrase "altitude ...
4
votes
1answer
1k views
Why is "LINING UP" used as the proper response to a "conditional" line-up instruction?
This is a list of the ICAO's standard phraseologies used for preparation for takeoff. I don't understand why "lining up" is (recommended to be) used as a response to a conditional line-up instruction. ...
1
vote
3answers
324 views
Official way for tower to address all aircraft on frequency for new ATIS? [duplicate]
When there's new ATIS info available and the altimiter setting has changed, what's the official phraseology for making the announcement to all the aircraft on the frequency? I'm looking in the FAA ATC ...
7
votes
5answers
5k views
What is the correct ATC phraseology in the US for an immediate - no delay takeoff?
Just wondering - what's the correct ATC phraseology for a takeoff where a plane does not stop first after lining up with the runway centerline before starting their takeoff roll?
Redwood five-two-six-...
4
votes
2answers
321 views
Help in decoding this ATC instruction with landing clearance?
I was reading the FAA ATC phraseology document (FAA JO Order 7110.65W) and wanted to see if I could get help on decoding what this phrase meant (from the same document):
“American Two Forty−Five, ...
2
votes
1answer
1k views
"Cancel altitude restriction." Under ICAO rules, does it cancel all altitude restrictions on a SID or STAR chart?
Let's say there are altitude restrictions at 5000ft, 11000ft, 15000ft, 18000ft on a SID chart. While you were following the SID (under ICAO rules), the Departure tells you "Climb 12000ft, cancel ...
12
votes
3answers
9k views
How do I tell ATC that I don't have a transponder?
If my plane doesn't have a transponder and ATC tells me to squawk some transponder code, how should I respond? Is it just as simple as "I don't have a transponder"?
This is for the United States and ...
1
vote
2answers
618 views
When pilots check in with a different controller, how to reference flight level?
When pilots check in with a different controller after they are handed off, how do they report their current altitude in flight levels if they are in level flight or a climb / descent? I feel like ...
6
votes
1answer
652 views
Why do we say "climb" and not "ascend"?
The term for moving to a lower altitude is "descending." Why, then, is the term for moving to a higher altitude "climbing" and not "ascending"? The latter goes better with the term "descending."
Does ...
1
vote
2answers
261 views
Is there any technical word to be used on Radio Telephony, to say that there is a "body air-shipped"?
A great number of dead bodies are transported by airplanes everyday.
How will pilots report to ATC they are transporting it/them?
13
votes
3answers
450 views
Is "Pull up and be ready" standard phraseology?
I was next in line (making IFR departure) just after a Bonanza departed, with about a dozen aircraft behind me. Tower called my number and said "pull up and be ready". I'm accustomed to "line up and ...
