Questions tagged [phraseology]
For questions about standard words, phrases, and abbreviations used by pilots and ATC in aviation radio communications. (More general questions about aviation-specific words, phrases, or definitions used outside of radio communications should usually be tagged [terminology] instead.)
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What is the meaning of (HR) (LY) (FOR) in radio phraseology?
Need help!
Can’f figure out what’s the meaning of (HR) (LY) (FOR) beside some words from this document: Source.
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What do these clearances by Heathrow Director mean?
For context: I know what a hold is, I know why we have them, but this is something I have not heard before.
I was recently flying VFR outside CAS (Controlled Airspace) with a friend of mine and we was ...
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Is there any top document for ATC glossary?
I have been searching for some official documents that have all ATC phrases, because I wanted to refresh some of the phrases for ATC, but I was not able to find any other than:
Eurocontrol ...
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How can a surface created with asphalt be considered "Rigid" and not "Flexible"? Isn't concrete that is rigid and asphalt that is flexible?
How can a surface created with asphalt be considered "Rigid" and not "Flexible"? Isn't concrete that is rigid and asphalt that is flexible? This was also stated in the answer to ...
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What do the "GP 330.5" and "CH24X" I marked in the picture below mean?
What do the "GP 330.5" and "CH24X" I marked in the picture below mean? I think 330.5 is localizer independent glidepath frequency but I have no idea what CH24X means. Does anyone ...
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Why would a pilot request that ATC dim the runway lights?
In this clip, the pilot requests dimmed runway lights.
Tower, you able to reduce the runway lights, please?
[Tower dims runway lights]
Thank you much
This seems like ...
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ATC Phraseology “fly heading” vs “turn [direction] heading”
This may be a UK/CAA phraseology quirk, but I’ve heard controllers use the phrase “fly heading 090” and “turn right/left, heading 090” seemingly interchangeably.
When would a controller use each ...
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What does "2-2-4-niner" mean?
In Avatar (2009), a man speaks to a pilot in a jet via radio:
MAN :Valkyrie 1-6, copy...Valkyrie 1-6, you are clear for de-orbit
burn at 2-2-4-niner.
Pilot: Copy, Venture Star. Go for de-orbit burn ...
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What “slang” do pilots and controllers use to refer to a “hard landing”?
Aviation is an environment which pilots and controllers use various phrases "off stage" to describe things in different terms from the standard ones. How do they say (far from the mics), ...
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When is the word "Over" required in radio transmissions?
From the AIM 4-2-3:
The terms initial contact or initial callup means the first radio call you make to a given facility or the first call to a different controller or FSS specialist within a facility....
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What is the correct use of "REPORT LANDING ASSURED?"
Listening to BDL_TWR on my way to work and I heard tower request of what I presume to be a helicopter pilot: "report landing assured."
I'm an S2 VATSIM ATC and so I'm fairly familiar with ...
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Responding to another aircraft without knowing their radio call sign
PPL student here. I recently had someone ask over the radio if there was any traffic in the pattern (uncontrolled class G airport). I could make out everything that pilot said except for his radio ...
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When told "call sign only" in a frequency change, how to transmit it?
For example: London Control says:
BAW211 contact London Approach 118.1, call sign only.
What will the pilot say to approach on 118.1?
London Approach, BAW211.
Or just:
BAW211.
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Untowered communication when abeam the airport
Let's say I have the following diagram
So, there's runway 28, and people take off straight out to the west towards the ocean. The runway is untowered and its right traffic for runway 28.
When I'm at ...
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Does "Cross [FIX] at 250 knots" mean I have to maintain 250 knots after the fix?
If you are given the clearance to "cross [FIX] at 250 knots", does this specifically mean :
1 ) Cross fix at 250 knots, and then after [FIX] your assigned speed is 250 knots until otherwise ...
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How to use/be an airborne relay
There are some cases where a pilot may not be able to reach ATC directly due to lack of power or being below the radio horizon:
On a handheld backup radio
After a forced landing
Over open water
In ...
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What does "closed traffic" mean?
I'm a Japanese ATC working in Japan.
I want to ask about "closed traffic". I checked 7110.65 for this.
Question 1: What is successive operation?
One day I was on duty and the air force pilot ...
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Flight directional headings [duplicate]
I listen to aircraft land and take off weekly. I noticed in taking off they usually only use about 3 to 5 different directions. I don't understand what they mean when for example they said to the ...
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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?
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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 ...
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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?
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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
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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 ...
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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?
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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? ...
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"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 ...
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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.
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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?
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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, ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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?
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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 ...
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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, ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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What is an appropriate way to practice ATC communications?
I'm a PPL trainee and I'm looking for a way to improve my radio communication.
https://www.liveatc.net/ is a great way to practice but I can't fully understand the conversation between the unit and ...
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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 ...
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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'?
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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, ...
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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?
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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 ...
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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 ...
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