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VHF Radio Communications

When we are flying we primarily communicate via the VHF radio. To make this as easy and understandable as we can the way we communicate is standardized. This is a tutorial on this works.

Establishing contact
When establishing contact an aircraft should use the full call sign of both the aircraft and the station it is calling. Sometimes the new controller will respond with the word "RADAR CONTACT" this means that communication has been established.

A/C - GATWICK TOWER, CYBER AIR 272
TWR - CYBER AIR 272, GATWICK TOWER, GO AHEAD

TWR - CYBER AIR 272, GATWICK TOWER
A/C - GATWICK TOWER, CYBER AIR 272, GO AHEAD

A/C - LONDON CONTROL, CYBER AIR 272 WITH YOU AT FL270 FOR HEATHROW
CTR - CYBER AIR 272, LONDON CONTROL, RADAR CONTACT

When opening the communication, the calling station should first call out the receiving station and then himself, the transmitting station. The answering station should respond with the calling station first and then his own. When a ground station wishes to broadcast information to all the stations it will use the term: "ALL STATIONS". No reply is necessary when such a broadcast is sent.

TWR - ALL STATIONS, GATWICK TOWER, NEW QNH 1003, GATWICK TOWER OUT

When a station is called but is uncertain of the calling stations call sign it will request that the calling station will repeat it's call sign, until it's understood.

A/C - GATWICK GROUND...272
GND - STATION CALLING GATWICK GROUND, SAY AGAIN YOUR CALL SIGN
A/C - GATWICK GROUND, CYBER AIR 272

When an error is made in the transmission the word "CORRECTION" should be spoken and the corrected segment broadcast again. Sometimes the whole broadcast will be repeated this should be preceded by "CORRECTION I SAY AGAIN"

A/C - GATWICK GROUND, CYBER AIR 273, CORRECTION CYBER AIR 272

A/C - GATWICK TOWER, CYBER AIR 272, CORRECTION I SAY AGAIN, GATWICK GROUND, CYBER AIR 272

Some parts of the call signs usually gets left out, to save time, after the contact has been established. Also note that if an important fact is stated it can be spoken twice.

A/C - TAXI TO RUNWAY 23 AND HOLD, ROGER, 272 (instead of CYBER AIR 272)

A/C - TOWER, CYBER AIR 272 LOST LEFT ENGINE, I SAY AGAIN, LOST LEFT ENGINE

Transfer of communications
An aircraft should be advised by the right ground station to change from one radio frequency to another with an agreed procedure. If this advise isn't issued the pilot should notify the current ground station before such a change is done. This is however a very rare occurrence. Sometimes the frequencies may be left out or shortened. The shortened version can be 3345 = 133.45 or POINT 45 = 133.45, of course the last version only works if the current station have the same main frequency, in this case 133.

DEP - CYBER AIR 272, CONTACT LONDON CONTROL 133.25
A/C - LONDON CONTROL ON 133.45, CYBER AIR 272

A/C - GATWICK DEPARTURE, CYBER AIR 272 SWITCHING TO LONDON CONTROL

DEP - CYBER AIR 272 CONTACT CONTROL, DECIMAL 45
A/C - CONTACTING CONTROL, DECIMAL 45, CYBER AIR 272

The decimal in the frequency is pronounced as "POINT" in the states, but in Europe it's pronounced as "DECIMAL". I.e. 133.45 can be pronounced as "ONE-THREE-THREE POINT FOUR-FIVE" or as "ONE-THREE-THREE DECIMAL FOUR-FIVE".

Sometimes the aircraft will be asked to standby, ATC will then initiate the contact when it is ready, unless something happens that the pilot wishes to notify ATC about.

A/C - GATWICK TOWER, CYBER AIR 272 HOLDING AT RUNWAY 23
TWR - CYBER AIR 272, STANDBY
A/C - STANDING BY, CYBER AIR 272

Issue of clearances and read back requirements
Readback are a way for the ATC to know that the pilot has received the information and that the information has been sent. It also serves as a check that the correct aircraft and only that one has gotten the information. The following clearances must be read back by the pilot:

A/C - GATWICK GROUND, CYBER AIR 272, REQUEST CLEARANCE TO HEATHROW AS FILED
GND - CYBER AIR 272, STANDBY
A/C - STANDING BY, CYBER AIR 272
GND - CYBER AIR 272, CLEARED TO HEATHROW, LEKKO DEPARTURE, FLIGHT LEVEL060, REST AS FILED, SQUAWK 5501
A/C - CLEARED TO HEATHROW, LEKKO DEPARTURE, NEW FLIGHT LEVEL 060, REST AS FILED, SQUAWK 5501, CYBER AIR 272
GND - READ BACK CORRECT

CTR - CYBER AIR 272, CROSS BIGGEN AT FL170
A/C - CROSS BIGGEN AT FL170, CYBER AIR 272

GND - CYBER AIR 272, TAXI TO RUNWAY 23 AND HOLD SHORT
A/C - TO RUNWAY 23 AND HOLD SHORT, ROGER, CYBER AIR 272

TWR - CYBER AIR 272, RUNWAY 23, WINDS 230 AT 2 KNOTS, CLEARED FOR TAKE-OFF
A/C - CLEARED FOR TAKE-OFF RUNWAY 23, CYBER AIR 272

ROGER means that the information is understood, WILCO means that the information is received and will be complied with. If the read back is wrong the controller will add "NEGATIVE" to it's response.

APP - CYBER AIR 272, FLY HEADING 230
A/C - HEADING 320, CYBER AIR 272
APP - CYBER AIR 272, NEGATIVE HEADING 230
A/C - HEADING 230, CYBER AIR 272

If there is doubt if the pilot can follow the clearance the controller might add "IF NOT POSSIBLE ADVISE". If at any time a pilot receives a clearance which cannot be complied with the pilot MUST advice the controller of this, using the phrase "UNABLE TO COMPLY", and give reasons.

Below are a table describing the number system (note that in "POINT" can be used instead of "DECIMAL") and a table describing the letters system:

tips:
1. Think the whole message over before you send it.
2. Pay close attention what the controller is telling you.
3. If you didn't understand, ask the controller to repeat it.
4. Have a paper and pencil standing by, so you can write the clearance given.
5. Use short messages.

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