Questions tagged [radio-communications]
Radio is the primary way that pilots communicate with air traffic control and with other aircraft.
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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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Are tower controllers trained on not overloading pilots with complex taxi instructions while landing?
The above question comes from the following observations:
I've noticed over the years of flying (small GA aircraft) that some towers are talking more and more to me while landing. It used to be ...
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What is the meaning of “next frequency” in PDC？
When we get pdc we see next frequency,For example 121.4
Sometimes it is the frequency of clearance,but sometimes is the frequency of departure.
WHY?Which frequency should it be?
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PTT mutes mic w/ A20, Delta Zulu, works with older headsets
New airplane to me. Coms work great using an older headset, David Clark or other brand. When using my Delta Zulu or Bose A20 the intercoms works fine until you press the PTT. When pressed the radio ...
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Why from the SELCAL pool letters "I", " N", "O" are omitted?
Why from the SELCAL code pool, the letters "I", " N", "O" are omitted?
Thanks in advance.
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What is meant by "Fox Two"?
Numerous Movies, Video Games, and TV shows featuring fighter pilots depict the pilots calling out "Fox Two" on the radio as they fire a missile.
The transmission (as depicted, I'm not sure ...
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Can a private pilot flying a passenger to a hospital use a MEDEVAC callsign?
Normal air ambulance flights in medical emergency situations use a callsign consisting of the word "MEDEVAC" followed by the registration number excluding the prefix (e.g. N912MF is "...
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Why Minimum Shift Keying (MSK) used in ACARS (A618 protocol) but not Gaussian Minimum Shift Keying (GMSK)
It appears that A618 protocol defined for ACARS uses the MSK, why MSK was chosen instead of other spectral efficient protocols.
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Who do you talk to in Class G airspace (UK)?
I'm currently in my early days of learning about aviation, and have just started learning how to use a VFR chart. One thing that I have noticed is that the class D airspaces generally have frequencies ...
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In cases where it's legal, is it feasible to use a phone for a call in the normal way?
In a country that allows cell phone use on planes, or with VoIP using satellite Internet, how feasible is it to use a phone by the normal method of holding it to your face on a small GA plane such as ...
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(In English) is there a way/shorthand to refer to the minutes part of a plane's landing time? (I.e. omitting the hour)
For example, if a plane lands at 17:34, is it possible (in English) to only report the minutes (34) portion of the time? If so, how?
The reason/context for the question: I'm trying to translate ...
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Is it feasible to make 2 meter amateur radio contacts from a small GA plane?
Is it feasible to make 2 meter amateur radio contacts from a small GA plane (e.g. a Cessna 172)? If so, what equipment is required?
Most of the stations being contacted will be using vertically ...
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Are any Q-codes still used in aviation?
On amateur (ham) radio, we often use Q-codes, which are three-letter codes starting with the letter Q with various meanings. They were originally used to speed up Morse code communications; it might ...
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Can a radio on VOX detect a loud tone and interpret as a cut on transmission (coming from pilot/cockpit)?
Can a radio using VOX detect a short tone and interpret it as a signal for cutoff of audio signal/transmission? this is A/G radio communication using a Schmid radio
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Tracking ATC communication with a flight of interest
I am a complete newbie, but hopefully this question makes sense. I am interested in tracking communication between a flight and ATC. I've found www.liveatc.net, but I have difficulties understanding ...
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What is the bandwidth of a 1090ES ADS-B signal?
I cannot find an official, trustworthy source on the bandwidth of the 1090 Mode S extended squitter ADS-B signal. It is not even listed in DO-260C standard. I've seen ranges from 50 kHz to 11 MHz (...
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Communication between airplanes
Hypothetically, can 2 airplanes (or rather 2 pilots) agree on a frequency that they know it's not used by any airport or service in the area and use it to communicate between each other, for whatever ...
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Why is there a short tone in the ATC recording that cuts the pilot transmission using VOX?
I had an experience of listening to tower-to-pilot conversation and noticed that there was a short tone in the audio stream that suppresses the voice/audio signal and causes muting on the recording. I ...
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Can I use an aviation radio on the ground in an emergency?
Suppose I'm doing some plane spotting, and I see a dangerous situation that I think needs to be brought to the attention of a pilot or ATC (such as a tire falling off an airplane, an engine fire, etc.)...
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Could Apple Airtags interfere with aircraft communication and navigation systems?
German media reports that Lufthansa has banned Airtags in checked bags:
This is specifically because of the transmission function.
Lufthansa claims that the transmission function needs to be turned ...
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How common is QRM on air band radio?
How common is it for QRM to interfere with aviation radio, whether from multiple operators transmitting simultaneously, from an unlicensed transmitter, or from sources other than air band radios?
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Do pilots ever talk directly to each other over radio?
Do pilots ever talk directly to other pilots over air band radio, or only to air traffic control?
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How is expected approach time phrased in ATC communications?
For example, does an air traffic controller say the full phrase ("expected approach time XX minutes") or are there other conventions?
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When a parallel runway is closed at an uncontrolled field, does the notation change for the operating runway?
I’m currently a CFI/CFII/MEI at a flight school based out of Falcon Field (KFFZ.) Falcon has a pair of runways, 4/22 R/L. When the tower closes, runway 4L/22R is closed.
During a training event this ...
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“X” letter meaning next to VHF frequency in jeppessen plates
DOH airport implemented new VHF frequencies in their new SID/STAR/APP jeppessen charts.
What does the « X »letter means next to these frequencies
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What's an ESAT as filmed in "Top Gun: Maverick"
This is an image from the movie Top Gun: Maverick
The scene in question is between 01:48:20 - 01:48:34
In the movie they're calling this device an ESAT, which is sending some signal which is visible ...
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What would an ATC command telling a pilot to maintain a certain speed until a certain distance from the destination sound like?
For example, instructing an aircraft to maintain a speed of 200 knots until it is 10 nautical miles from the destination / runway threshold?
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Do these sound like plausible ATC communications (specifically in China, if that's relevant)?
Working on a small translation project that involves civil aviation. The setting is a Chinese airport. Same idea as my other question -
Do these seem like plausible radio communication dialogue ...
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Do these phrases sound like actual things that could be said during radio communications between pilots and ATCs?
I'm working on some translations and want to make sure that I'm not making things up with the radio communications.
Here are a few sentences I would appreciate help with. Bold font indicates areas I'm ...
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Can I ask ATC a radio check with a handheld radio?
I bought a handheld portable radio capable of transmitting in the air band and I was wondering if I can request a radio check to the ATC to see if the radio works properly. I know it's illegal to talk ...
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What's the difference between ACARS and ATSU?
I've seen ACARS and ATSU used interchangeably and I've seen references that imply they're different things (ATSU being Airbus only).
How would I explain the difference to someone?
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How can I become a master at the radios?
Are there any resources for student pilots who wants to get better at the radios?
Currently, I am immersing myself by using liveatc.com but what I am looking for is perhaps scripts between pilot and ...
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Can IATA Type B messages (Load, i.e., LDM and Movement, MVT) be transmitted and received over Aeronautical Fixed Telecommunication Network (AFTN)?
We, being the Air Navigation Services (ANS) operator, are providing and connected to Aeronautical Fixed Telecommunication Network (AFTN) network.
We now want to received IATA Type B messages (Load, i....
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How to become a master at multitasking
I am a student pilot with 60 hours. The first 50 hours I received 5 years ago and the last 10 is what I have received within the past month.
I need some advice:
Throughout training My instructor ...
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What license do I need to transmit on AirBand frequencies?
I am not a pilot, but at my company we are trying to figure out what FCC license we need to use to talk to our pilot when we are on the ground and they are flying. My research has led me to mixed ...
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What CTAF/phraseology should be used for non-airfield departures?
Assume a pilot has landed their aircraft on a body of water in a lightly populated area, though the question still holds for large grassy meadow. The time has come for them to depart.
They're not on ...
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What is 'dual monitoring' in radio communication?
I heard this word while local flying, and can't find any other results on internet.
I only knew that 'monitoring a frequency' means only listenening to the selected frequency, rather than making a ...
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Why doesn’t ACARS just use HF if it has better range than VHF?
Why does ACARS default to VHF if HF has a better range?
For example, when requesting ATIS from an airport, it will first try VHF, and if that fails, it will try HF. And if all hope seems lost, it ...
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Is there a designated air-to-air HF frequency in the USA?
Suppose I'm flying somewhere over the middle of the United States, happily telling stories exchanging important flight-related information with another aircraft on 122.75, the designated VHF air-to-...
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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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Why is communication between ATC and airliners not also written?
Reading this question: How often does a pilot ask ATC for a repeat?
Most modern airliners' cockpits have plenty of digital displays.
Why is communication between ATC and pilots not also typed/...
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How often does a pilot ask ATC for a repeat?
How often does it actually happen?
Also, is it fine to ask them to slow down if it’s hard to understand, for example, due to a heavy accent?
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How to find ATC recordings for a May 8th general aviation crash?
Unfortunately this Sunday I had a friend and her husband who crashed and didn't make it.
Would it be ridiculous to ask if anybody perhaps would know where to look for potential ATC recordings? I have ...
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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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Is "Conflicting Traffic" any better than "All Traffic?"
CTAF guidelines make clear that "all traffic in area please advise," is a bad idea and great way to get CTAF blocked for everybody. Makes sense, cool.
I've seen in videos people using "...
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Does the pilot flying always listen to radio communications?
When there is a pilot flying (PF) and a pilot monitoring (PM), does the PF always listen to flight deck radio communications? I would think Yes under normal conditions, but optionally No during ...
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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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Did military aircraft in the sixties commonly lack VHF radios?
Investigating the XB-70 cockpit equipment, I notice that it only had (two) UHF radios, of the AN/ARC-50 model, for the 225–399.95 MHz band. No VHF radio that could be used to talk to civilian ATC or ...
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CAP 413: Callsign-first replies in UK RT procedure?
Taking a UK Flight Radio Telephony Operator Licence course and have fallen into a rabbithole.
From CAP 413 edition 23 (the CAA's Radiotelephony Manual):
2.48
The placement of the callsigns of both ...
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What is the difference between CTAF and the Tower frequency? Why does the Chart Supplement list the same frequency twice?
At many part-time towered airports the Chart Supplement will have a listing along these lines:
COMMUNICATIONS: CTAF 119.2, TOWER 119.2 (1400–0500Z‡)
The CTAF is the same frequency as the Tower. What ...
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