Phonetic Alphabet
.docPhonetic Alphabet / Morse Code
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Character Morse Code Telephony Phonic (Pronunciation)
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A .- Alfa (AL-FAH)
B -... Bravo (BRAH-VOH)
C -.-. Charlie (CHAR-LEE) or (SHAR-LEE)
D -.. Delta (DELL-TA)
E . Echo (ECK-OH)
F ..-. Foxtrot (FOKS-TROT)
G --. Golf (GOLF)
H .... Hotel (HOH-TEL)
I .. India (IN-DEE-AH)
J .--- Juliett (JEW-LEE-ETT)
K -.- Kilo (KEY-LOH)
L .-.. Lima (LEE-MAH)
M -- Mike (MIKE)
N -. November (NO-VEM-BER)
O --- Oscar (OSS-CAH)
P .--. Papa (PAH-PAH)
Q --.- Quebec (KEH-BECK)
R .-. Romeo (ROW-ME-OH)
S ... Sierra (SEE-AIR-RAH)
T - Tango (TANG-GO)
U ..- Uniform (YOU-NEE-FORM) or (OO-NEE-FORM)
V ...- Victor (VIK-TAH)
W .-- Whiskey (WIS-KEY)
X -..- X-ray (ECKS-RAY)
Y -.-- Yankee (YANG-KEY)
Z --.. Zulu (ZOO-LOO)
1 .---- One (WUN)
2 ..--- Two (TOO)
3 ...-- Three (TREE)
4 ....- Four (FOW-ER)
5 ..... Five (FIFE)
6 -.... Six (SIX)
7 --... Seven (SEV-EN)
8 ---.. Eight (AIT)
9 ----. Nine (NIN-ER)
0 ----- Zero (ZEE-RO)
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FIGURES
a. Figures indicating hundreds and thousands in round number, as for ceiling heights, and upper wind levels up to 9,900 shall be spoken in accordance with the following:
EXAMPLE:
500 - FIVE HUNDRED
EXAMPLE:
4,500 - FOUR THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED
b. Numbers above 9,900 shall be spoken by separating the digits preceding the word "thousand."
EXAMPLE:
10,000 - ONE ZERO THOUSAND
EXAMPLE:
13,500 - ONE THREE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED
c. Transmit airway or jet route numbers as follows:
EXAMPLE:
V12 - VICTOR TWELVE
EXAMPLE:
J533 - J FIVE THIRTY-THREE
d. All other numbers shall be transmitted by pronouncing each digit.
EXAMPLE:
10 - ONE ZERO
e. When a radio frequency contains a decimal point, the decimal point is spoken as "POINT."
EXAMPLE:
122.1 - ONE TWO TWO POINT ONE
NOTE - ICAO Procedures require the decimal point be spoken as "DECIMAL," and FAA will honor such usage by military aircraft and all other aircraft required to use ICAO Procedures.
4-2-9. ALTITUDES AND FLIGHT LEVELS
a. Up to but not including 18,000 feet MSL, state the separate digits of the thousands plus the hundreds if appropriate.
EXAMPLE:
12,000 - ONE TWO THOUSAND
EXAMPLE:
12,500 - ONE TWO THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED
b. At and above 18,000 feet MSL (FL 180), state the words "flight level" followed by the separate digits of the flight level.
EXAMPLE:
190 - FLIGHT LEVEL ONE NINER ZERO
275 - FLIGHT LEVEL TWO SEVEN FIVE
4-2-10. DIRECTIONS
The three digits of bearing, course, heading, or wind direction should always be magnetic. The word "true" must be added when it applies.
EXAMPLE:
(Magnetic course) 005 - ZERO ZERO FIVE
(True course) 050 - ZERO FIVE ZERO TRUE
(Magnetic bearing) 360 - THREE SIX ZERO
(Magnetic heading) 100 - HEADING ONE ZERO ZERO
(Wind direction) 220 - WIND TWO TWO ZERO
4-2-11. SPEEDS
The separate digits of the speed followed by the word "KNOTS." Except, controllers may omit the word "KNOTS" when using speed adjustment procedures; for example, "REDUCE/INCREASE SPEED TO TWO FIVE ZERO."
EXAMPLES:
(Table 4-40[1])
(Speed) 250 - TWO FIVE ZERO KNOTS
(Speed) 190 - ONE NINER ZERO KNOTS
The separate digits of the Mach number preceded by "MACH."
EXAMPLES:
(Table 4-40[2])
(Mach number) 1.5 - MACH ONE POINT FIVE
(Mach number) 0.64 - MACH POINT SIX FOUR
(Mach number) 0.7 - MACH POINT SEVEN
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Traffic Pattern
The pattern of traffic around a non-controlled airport is as shown below.
An aircraft taking off eastward on runway 9 and staying in the traffic pattern will turn Crosswind (position 5) at approximately 400 feet above the runway, then Downwind to fly parallel the runway as shown at number 2 at an altitude approximately 800 feet above the runway. (Note: Some airports designate the pattern altitude to be 1000 feet.). Then when past the end of the runway will turn to Base between positions 2 and 3, while descending. The aircraft will the turn to Final at position 3. This is known as a Standard Left Hand Pattern. Also, according to the pattern indicators, a pattern for runway 36 is left hand. The downwind leg is on the west side of the airport, with all turns to the left.
The pattern indicators indicate landings on Runways 27 and 18 are right hand patterns. The downwind leg for runway 27 is north of the airport, with all turns to the right. Landing on 18, the downwind leg will be west of the airport, with all turns to the right.
Aircraft outside the pattern should enter the pattern approximately at mid point of the airport at a 45° angle to downwind (position 1). Aircraft leaving the traffic pattern should depart anywhere from “straight out" (position 6) to “crosswind” (position 5. A right turn departure from a left hand pattern is prohibited.
At airports with parallel runways, left hand pattern is used on the left runway; a right hand pattern is used on the right runway.
Traffic patterns at controlled airports with an operating control tower follow generally the same procedures. However, since the tower controller is responsible for traffic separation within the tower jurisdiction, the controller may grant or require other procedures. In all cases, except emergency, obey the controllers' instructions. The traffic pattern at tower-controlled airports is usually 1000 feet Above Ground Level (AGL).
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Expecting the words
ACKNOWLEDGE—Let me know that you have received my message.
AFFIRMATIVE—Yes.
BLOCKED—Phraseology used to indicate that a radio transmission has been distorted or interrupted due to multiple simultaneous radio transmissions.
CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF—ATC authorization for an aircraft to depart.
CLEARED FOR THE OPTION—ATC authorization for an aircraft to make a touch and go, low approach, missed approach, stop and go, or full-stop landing at the discretion of the pilot. It is normally used in training so that an instructor can evaluate a student's performance under changing situations.
CLEARED TO LAND—ATC authorization for an aircraft to land. It is predicated on known traffic and known physical airport conditions.
CLOSED TRAFFIC—Successive operations involving takeoffs and landings [touch-and-goes] or low approaches where the aircraft does not exit the traffic pattern.
EXPEDITE—Used by ATC when prompt compliance is required to avoid the development of an imminent situation.
FLY HEADING (Degrees)—Informs the pilot of the heading he should fly. The pilot may have to turn to, or continue on, a specific compass direction in order to comply with the instructions. The pilot is expected to turn in the shorter direction to the heading unless otherwise instructed by ATC.
FUEL REMAINING—A phrase used by either pilots or controllers when relating to the fuel remaining on board until actual fuel exhaustion. When transmitting such information in response to either a controller question or pilot initiated cautionary advisory to air traffic control, pilots will state the APPROXIMATE NUMBER OF MINUTES the flight can continue with the fuel remaining. All reserve fuel SHOULD BE INCLUDED in the time stated, as should an allowance for established fuel gauge system error.
GO AROUND—Instructions for a pilot to abandon his approach to landing. Additional instructions may follow. Unless otherwise advised by ATC, a VFR aircraft or an aircraft conducting visual approach should overfly the runway while climbing to traffic pattern altitude and enter the traffic pattern via the crosswind leg. A pilot on an IFR flight plan making an instrument approach should execute the published missed approach procedure or proceed as instructed by ATC; e.g., "Go around" (additional instructions if required).
HAVE NUMBERS—Used by pilots to inform ATC that they have received runway, wind, and altimeter information only.
HOW DO YOU HEAR ME?—A question relating to the quality of the transmission or to determine how well the transmission is being received.
IDENT—A request for a pilot to activate the aircraft transponder identification feature. This will help the controller to confirm an aircraft identity or to identify an aircraft. Do not confuse this with squawk, which means to tune the transponder code or transponder operating mode, such as Mode C, altitude reporting, a controller gives you.
IMMEDIATELY—Used by ATC when such action compliance is required to avoid an imminent situation.
MAINTAIN—Concerning altitude/flight level, the term means to remain at the altitude/flight level specified. The phrase "climb and" or "descend and" normally precedes "maintain" and the altitude assignment; e.g., "descend and maintain 5,000." Concerning other ATC instructions, the term is used in its literal sense; e.g., maintain VFR.
MAKE SHORT APPROACH—Used by ATC to inform a pilot to alter his traffic pattern so as to make a short final approach.
MAYDAY—The international radio telephony distress signal. When repeated three times, it indicates imminent and grave danger and that immediate assistance is requested.
MINIMUM FUEL—Indicates that an aircraft's fuel supply has reached a state where, upon reaching the destination, it can accept little or no delay. This is not an emergency situation but merely indicates an emergency situation is possible should any undue delay occur.
NEGATIVE—"No," or "permission not granted," or "that is not correct."
NEGATIVE CONTACT—Used by pilots to inform ATC that the previously issued traffic is not in sight. It may be followed by the pilot's request for the controller to provide assistance in avoiding the traffic. Used by pilots to inform ATC they were unable to contact ATC on a particular frequency.
RADAR CONTACT—Used by ATC to inform an aircraft that it is identified on the radar display and radar flight following will be provided until radar identification is terminated.
RADAR SERVICE TERMINATED—Used by ATC to inform a pilot that he will no longer be provided any of the services that could be received while in radar contact. Radar service is automatically terminated, and the pilot is not advised in the following cases: 1. An aircraft cancels its IFR flight plan, except within Class B airspace, Class C airspace, a TRSA, or where Basic Radar service is provided. 2. An aircraft conducting an instrument, visual, or contact approach has landed or has been instructed to change to advisory frequency. 3. An arriving VFR aircraft, receiving radar service to a tower controlled airport within Class B airspace, Class C airspace, a TRSA, or where sequencing service is provided, has landed; or to all other airports, is instructed to change to tower or advisory frequency. 4. An aircraft completes a radar approach.
READ BACK—Repeat my message back to me.
REPORT—Used to instruct pilots to advise ATC of specified information; e.g., "Report passing Hamilton VOR."
SAY AGAIN—Used to request a repeat of the last transmission. Usually specifies transmission or portion thereof not understood or received; e.g., "Say again all after ABRAM VOR."
SAY ALTITUDE—Used by ATC to ascertain an aircraft's specific altitude/flight level. When the aircraft is climbing or descending, the pilot should state the indicated altitude rounded to the nearest 100 feet.
SAY HEADING—Used by ATC to request an aircraft heading. The pilot should state the actual heading of the aircraft.
SPEAK SLOWER—Used in verbal communications as a request to reduce speech rate.
SQUAWK (Mode, Code, Function)—Activate specific modes/ codes/functions on the aircraft transponder, e.g., "Squawk two—one-zero-five." Squawk does not mean pilot should press the transponder's IDENT button.
STAND BY—Means the controller or pilot must pause for a few seconds, usually to attend to other duties of a higher priority. Also means to wait as in "stand by for clearance." The caller should reestablish contact if a delay is lengthy. "Stand by" is not an approval or denial.
TAXI INTO POSITION AND HOLD—Used by ATC to inform a pilot to taxi onto the departure runway in takeoff position and hold. It is not authorization for takeoff. It is used when takeoff clearance cannot immediately be issued because of traffic or other reasons.
THAT IS CORRECT—The understanding you have is right.
TRAFFIC—A term used by ATC to refer to one or more aircraft.
TRAFFIC IN SIGHT—Used by pilots to inform a controller that previously issued traffic is in sight.
UNABLE—Indicates inability to comply with a specific instruction, request, or clearance.
VERIFY—Request confirmation of information; e.g., "verify assigned altitude."