radio communication

Sep 2012Lesson 6.2

Radio

Communication

Reference

From the Ground UpChapter 8.4:Radio Communication ProceduresPages 219 - 229

Introduction• There are guidelines and standard

procedures for aviation radio communication.

• It’s very important that pilots know these in order to communicate effectively around the world over aviation radio

Outline• Number, Alphabet, and Time• Standard Phrases• Communication Priority• Radio Technique• Emergency Communication

Numbers• Pronunciation:

– 0 ZEE-RO 5 FIFE1 WUN 6 SIX 2 TOO 7 SEV-en 3 TREE 8 AIT 4 FOW-er 9 NIN-er

– Thousand: TOU-SANDDecimal: DAY-SEE-MAL

• Examples:– 10 One Zero

19 One Niner800 Eight Zero Zero11 000 One One Thousand

Phonetic Alphabet• A Alfa N November

B Bravo O OscarC Charlie P PapaD Delta Q QuebecE Echo R RomeoF Foxtrot S SierraG Golf T TangoH Hotel U UniformI India V VictorJ Juliet W WhiskeyK Kilo X X-rayL Lima Y YankeeM Mike Z Zulu

Time• 24 hour system used to express time:

– 12:00 midnight 000012:30 am 00302:15 am 02155:45 am 054512:00 noon 12003:30 pm 153010:50 pm 2250

• In aviation, co-ordinated universal time (UTC, Z, or zulu) is normally used

Standard Phrases• Acknowledge Let me know you have received and

understood this message

• Affirmative Yes

• Break I hereby indicate the separation between portions of the message

• Confirm My version is… is that correct?

• Correction I have made an error, the correct version is…

• Do you read? I have called you more than once, if you are receiving me, reply

• Go ahead Proceed with your message

Standard Phrases• How do you read me? Can you hear me clearly?

• I say again I will Repeat

• Negative No

• Out My transmission is ended, I do not expect a reply from you

• Over My transmission is ended, I expect a reply from you

• Read back Repeat this message back to me after I have given “Over”

• Roger Okay, I have received your message

Standard Phrases• Say again Repeat

• Speak slower Talk more slowly

• Stand by I must pause for a few seconds

• That is correct You have the correct information

• Verify Check with the originator

• Wilco Your instructions received, understood, and will be complied with

Communication Priority• Communication over the radio follows the following

priority:– Emergency communications (Distress and Urgency)– Flight safety communications (ATC clearances, airport

advisories, position reports, flight plans etc)– Scheduled broadcasts– Unscheduled broadcasts– Other air-ground communications

Radio Technique• Call-up City tower, this is Cessna one seven two

foxtrot juliet echo sierra, (over)

• Reply Foxtrot juliet echo sierra, (this is) city tower

• Message City tower, foxtrot juliet echo sierra is transiting through the zone eastbound

en route to Oshawa

• Acknowledgement Foxtrot juliet echo sierra, city tower, cleared through the zone

• End Foxtrot juliet echo sierra, (out)

Communication Checks• Radio operators can request radio checks to

determine Readability and/or Strength

• Number Readability Strength– 1 Unreadable Bad– 2 Readable now and then Poor– 3 Readable with difficulty Fair– 4 Readable Good– 5 Perfectly Readable Excellent

Distress• Distress call is made when an aircraft is in grave and

imminent danger and requires immediate assistance

• Distress call: Mayday – Mayday – Mayday

• If in distress, the first call should be made on the air-ground frequency in use

• If no reply on current frequency, switch to distress frequency: 121.5 MHz

Urgency• Urgency call is made to a specific station when there

is a an urgent message about the safety of a ship, aircraft or person on board or within sight

• Also can be used if an aircraft is having difficulties, but immediate assistance is not required

• Urgency call: Pan Pan – Pan Pan – Pan Pan

Safety• Safety call indicates that station is about to transmit

an important navigation or weather warning to aircraft in flight

• Safety call: Security – Security – Security